Vatican cancels more Holy Year events as pope remains in hospital

Expected to draw some 30 million people to Rome, the Holy Year is packed with special papal audiences and Masses throughout 2025

A statue of Pope John Paul II in front of the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome Picture: Andrew Medichini/AP

The Vatican on Tuesday cancelled papal audiences throughout the weekend and delegated others to cover for Pope Francis, as the 88-year-old pope remained in hospital with a multi-pronged respiratory infection.

The cancellations put a dampener on forthcoming events of the Vatican’s big Holy Year, the once-every-quarter-century celebration of Catholicism which encourages pilgrims to go to Rome to take part in special jubilee activities.