FACT CHECK: Pope Francis Has Not Died As Of Feb. 23

A post shared on Facebook claims Pope Francis has died as of Feb. 23.

Verdict: False

Updates on Pope Francis’ health have been shared to Vatican News through Feb. 26. He remains hospitalized and continues to receive treatment.

Fact Check:

Pope Francis asked for prayers as he battles double pneumonia in a written message released on Feb. 23, according to BBC News. The pope was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Feb. 14 after he experienced difficulties breathing, the outlet reported.

The Facebook post claims Pope Francis has died as of Feb. 23.

“Pope Francis, spiritual leader of the Catholic Church, has died at the age of 88 at Gemelli Hospital in Rome, where he was admitted due to a polymicrobial respiratory tract infection. His health had worsened in recent days, requiring prolonged hospitalization and the cancellation of his public activities,” the post reads in part.

The post features what appears to be a photo of Pope Francis lying in a hospital bed and wearing an oxygen mask.

The claim is false. According to a Feb. 24 post on Vatican News, Pope Francis had a “restful tenth night in the hospital.” Other statements shared on the website on Feb. 24 indicated prayers were being offered for Pope Francis during daily Mass and Eucharistic adoration beginning the same day, and the pope’s condition had seen a “slight improvement.” Updates about Pope Francis’ health have continued to be posted to Vatican News, with a Feb. 26 update noting he had a “quiet night” and is still receiving treatment.

Likewise, there is no reference to the claim on Pope Francis’ verified X account @Pontifex. (RELATED: Did The Italian Bishops And The Vatican Allow Gay Men To Become Priests If They Remain Celibate?)

In addition, Check Your Fact found no credible news reports to support the claim. Actually, the opposite is true. On Feb. 25, PolitiFact debunked the claim that the pope had died as of Feb. 23. The outlet also reported that the image included in the Facebook post was created with artificial intelligence (AI).

This is not the first time a false claim about Pope Francis has circulated online. Check Your Fact previously debunked an X post claiming Pope Francis had resigned from the papacy due to health issues as of Feb. 21.