Pope Francis shares first message from hospital bed after condition declared critical

A first-person written message from Pope Francis was shared Sunday as the leader of the Roman Catholic Church continues his hospitalization in Rome.  

“I have recently received many messages of affection, and I have been particularly struck by the letters and drawings from children,” Pope Francis posted on X Sunday. “Thank you for your closeness, and for the consoling prayers I have received from all over the world!” 

“I urge you to continue your apostolate with joy and to be a sign of a love that embraces everyone, as the #GospelOfTheDay suggests,” another post said. “May we transform evil into goodness and build a fraternal world. Do not be afraid to take risks for love!” 

The language was similar to part of Pope Francis’ longer homily, which Archbishop Rino Fisichella read on his behalf while celebrating the Holy Mass for the Jubilee of Deacons on Sunday. 

POPE FRANCIS HAD PEACEFUL NIGHT’S REST AT HOSPITAL FOLLOWING RESPIRATORY CRISIS, VATICAN SAYS

The Vatican released a copy of the text “prepared by the Holy Father.” 

“Brothers and sisters, happy Sunday!” the pope’s homily began. “This morning, in Saint Peter’s Basilica, the celebration of the Eucharist with the Ordination of some candidates to the diaconate was celebrated. I greet them and the participants in the Jubilee of Deacons, which has taken place in the Vatican in these days; and I thank the Dicasteries for the Clergy and for Evangelization for the preparation of this event.” 

Pope Francis urged the deacons “to continue your apostolate with joy and – as today’s Gospel suggests – to be a sign of a love that embraces everyone, that transforms evil into goodness and engenders a fraternal world.” 

“Do not be afraid to risk love!” the homily continued. “On my part, I am confidently continuing my hospitalization at the Gemelli Hospital, carrying on with the necessary treatment; and rest is also part of the therapy! I sincerely thank the doctors and health workers of this hospital for the attention they are showing me and the dedication with which they carry out their service among the sick.” 

In the pre-prepared statement, Pope Francis added that Monday “will be the third anniversary of the large-scale war against Ukraine: a painful and shameful occasion for the whole of humanity!” 

“As I reiterate my closeness to the suffering Ukrainian people, I invite you to remember the victims of all armed conflicts, and to pray for the gift of peace in Palestine, Israel and throughout the Middle East, Myanmar, Kivu and Sudan,” the message said. 

POPE FRANCIS’ MEDICAL CONDITION: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT BILATERAL PNEUMONIA

“In recent days, I have received many messages of affection, and I have been particularly struck by the letters and drawings from children,” the pope added. “Thank you for this closeness, and for the prayers of comfort I have received from all over the world! I entrust you all to the intercession of Mary, and I ask you to pray for me.” 

The Vatican said Pope Francis was conscious but still receiving high flows of supplemental oxygen on Sunday, following a respiratory crisis and blood transfusions. He remains in critical condition with a complex lung infection. 

The Holy See Press Office’s brief statement early Sunday did not mention if Pope Francis was out of bed or eating breakfast, which it had on previous days. 

“The night passed quietly, the pope rested,” it said.

The Vatican later said Francis was conscious, continuing to receive supplemental oxygen and that further clinical tests were being conducted. A more detailed medical update was said to be later Sunday.

The 88-year-old pope was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Feb. 14 due to a worsening case of bronchitis.

On Saturday, doctors said Pope Francis, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, was in critical condition after suffering a prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis while being treated for pneumonia and a complex lung infection.

The pope received “high flows” of oxygen to help him breathe through a nasal tube. He also received blood transfusions after tests showed low counts of platelets, which are needed for clotting, the Vatican said in a late update.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The Saturday statement also said that the pontiff “continues to be alert and spent the day in an armchair although in more discomfort than yesterday.” Doctors said the prognosis was “reserved,” and that the pope’s condition is touch-and-go, given his age, fragility and pre-existing lung disease. His condition has revived speculation about what might happen if he becomes unconscious or otherwise incapacitated, and whether he might resign.

Elon Musk says ‘bar is very low’ after giving federal employees ultimatum

Billionaire Elon Musk said Saturday that “the bar is very low” after announcing that all federal employees must report their productivity if they wish to keep their jobs.

Musk, a senior advisor to President Donald Trump, said earlier on Saturday that employees will receive an email giving them a chance to explain how productive they were the previous week. If an employee fails to respond to the email, Musk said the government will interpret that as a resignation.

“Consistent with President @realDonaldTrump’s instructions, all federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week,” Musk wrote on X. “Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.”

Later on Saturday, Musk said the report should take under five minutes for employees to write. The deadline to respond to the email is 11:59 p.m. Monday.

ELON MUSK SAYS FEDERAL EMPLOYEES MUST FILL OUT PRODUCTIVITY REPORTS OR RESIGN

“To be clear, the bar is very low here. An email with some bullet points that make any sense at all is acceptable! Should take less than 5 mins to write,” Musk wrote on X.

In another post, Musk responded to the White House’s Rapid Response account in which it laid out what the administration has done in the last week, which included Trump signing executive orders to expand access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and to end benefits for illegal immigrants.

“That would be a very impressive and long list indeed for you!” Musk responded.

“However, the passing grade is literally just ‘Can you send an email with words that make any sense at all?'” he continued. “It’s a low bar.”

A spokesperson from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) confirmed Musk’s plans.

“As part of the Trump Administration’s commitment to an efficient and accountable federal workforce, OPM is asking employees to provide a brief summary of what they did last week by the end of Monday, CC’ing their manager,” the spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Agencies will determine any next steps.”

New FBI Director Kash Patel, however, has instructed agency employees not to respond yet to the OPM email, according to ABC News.

“FBI personnel may have received an email from OPM requesting information,” Patel told employees. “The FBI, through the Office of the Director, is in charge of all of our review processes, and will conduct reviews in accordance with FBI procedures. When and if further information is required, we will coordinate the responses. For now, please pause any responses. Thank you, Kash Patel.”

WHITE HOUSE OUTLINES WHERE DOGE SAVINGS COULD GO AFTER TRUMP FLOATS RETURNING 20% TO AMERICANS

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The American Federation of Government Employees labor union said it plans to “challenge any unlawful terminations of our members and federal employees across the country.”

“It is cruel and disrespectful for federal employees to be forced to justify their job duties to this out-of-touch, privileged, unelected billionaire who has never performed one single hour of honest public service in his life,” the union wrote on X.

The productivity reports came as the Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency continues efforts to cut suspected waste across the federal government.

AG Bondi’s 3-word response to Democrat gov trashing DOJ lawsuit as ‘worthless’

Attorney General Pam Bondi said President Donald Trump’s administration will “find illegal aliens” and “deport them in Illinois, New York and other states,” in her latest warning to Democratic governors.

“You better comply with federal law, or you will be next,” Bondi said on Friday during an appearance on “America Reports” with co-anchors Sandra Smith and John Roberts. Bondi was asked by Smith if there was anything thataltered or prioritized some of her initial goals since being sworn into her position on Feb. 5. 

Bondi explained that taking the Department of Justice back to its “prime major function” of “fighting violent crime” was initially her top priority. But she also mentioned that government waste and drug cartels were at the top of her list as well.

‘TOUGH DECISIONS’ IN STORE FOR ‘SANCTUARY’ CITIES AFTER BONDI TURNS OFF FEDERAL FUNDING SPIGOT’

Bondi was questioned about New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s pushback against the Trump administration’s lawsuit against her state for failure to comply with federal immigration laws. The blue state leader declared on Feb. 12 in an official statement that “we expect Pam Bondi’s worthless, publicity-driven lawsuit to be a total failure, just like all the others.” 

Bondi’s response was direct.

“Bring it on,” she said on “America Reports”.

“They are protecting illegal aliens over American citizens – not going to happen,” she added. “And you better comply with federal law, or you’re going to be next.”

BONDI ANNOUNCES NEW LAWSUITS AGAINST STATES ALLEGEDLY FAILING TO COMPLY WITH IMMIGRATION ACTIONS: ‘A NEW DOJ’

Hochul and New York are not the only blue bastions receiving numerous reminders to not harbor migrants from deportation operations. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker blasted Bondi and the Trump administration for their policies, remaining defiant.

“Unlike Donald Trump, we follow the law in Illinois,” Pritzker said publicly in Chicago on Feb. 7. “Donald Trump has no idea what he’s up against when he attacks Illinois.”

The attorney general argues the law is on the Trump administration’s side.

“We’ve spoken loud and clear,” Bondi responded. “We are sick and tired of Americans being murdered, and these states protecting illegal aliens.” 

“Talk to the family of Laken Riley and all of these other young women and men who have been murdered by illegal aliens. See what you think then, when you want to protect them.”

Bondi also responded to an MSNBC headline that scrutinized her appearance at CPAC 2025 Thursday. She defended the appearance as a “great time,” and found it “comical” that critics called it a “partisan move.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“You know what we’re talking about,” Bondi said. “Taking violent crime off the street, fighting the fentanyl epidemic… how is that partisan?”

Trump admin warns deep blue state’s ‘disastrous’ high-speed rail project is on thin ice

President Donald Trump is calling for an audit that could kill California’s high-speed rail proposal, which has been around for nearly two decades and has made very little progress. 

Many union workers who depend on the federal lifeline turned out to Union Station in Los Angeles on Thursday to throw tomatoes and heckle Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, as his department will lead the charge of figuring out how the funds are being utilized. 

“It’s been 17 years and $16 billion and no rail has been built,” Duffy said while the protesters were in the room reacting to his comments. 

CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATS URGE FEDS TO APPROVE HIGH-SPEED RAIL FUNDING BEFORE DOGE NIXES ‘BOONDOGGLE’

“So, if you want to go protest somewhere, if you want to go shout at someone, go to the governor’s mansion – go talk to Democrats in the legislature who have brought us this crappy project,” he added. 

Specifically, the secretary wants to investigate if there were any shady business dealings tied with the rail project’s failure so far. As of January, the state was touting a small development in the project’s Bakersfield section.

“No state in America is closer to launching high-speed rail than California – and today, we just took a massive step forward. We’re moving into the track-laying phase, completing structures for key segments, and laying the groundwork for a high-speed rail network,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement last month. 

“The future of transportation is being realized right here in the Central Valley with thousands of good-paying jobs already created and 171 miles being worked on. As only California can, we’re building America’s biggest infrastructure project,” he added. 

Federal taxpayers spent almost $3 billion on the project – with another $4 billion promised by, but not already spent, from President Joe Biden. The audit could provide Trump with the legal authority to claw that money back. 

Still, there is almost nothing to show for the project, which is projected to cost $106 billion to achieve its final goal of stretching from Los Angeles to San Francisco, according to the Associated Press. Proponents have argued that the rail would make California, one of the nation’s largest states, more connected. 

TRUMP SUPPORTING CALIFORNIA SHERIFF LAUNCHES REPUBLICAN RUN FOR GOVERNOR IN RACE TO SUCCEED NEWSOM

Congressman Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., is pleased to see the project getting federal attention. 

“We have been fighting against this disastrous project for years, and now, thanks to Secretary Duffy and President Trump, we finally have an opportunity to hopefully bring it to an end,” he told Fox News Digital.

“I’m not sure why anyone would be in favor of what’s going on in California. We’re wasting taxpayer money in a really, just on an epic scale and not getting anything in return for it,” he added.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

In addition, Congresswoman Young Kim, R-Calif., argued “it’s about time” for accountability on the project. 

“We’ll see if this investigation leads to finding any fraud and waste. If there is fraud, I know it would probably be in the areas of whether or not the contractors, subcontractors, the designer, the builders, anyone who’s involved with the high-speed rail project is somehow involved in this process,” she said. 

MSNBC drops Trump-hating prime time host with history of racially charged statements

MSNBC is canceling Joy Reid’s program “The ReidOut” as part of a major network shakeup, Fox News Digital has learned.

Reid’s 7 p.m. ET program will be replaced by a show featuring Symone Sanders-Townsend, a former spokesperson to Vice President Kamala Harris, Alicia Menendez and RNC Chair turned MSNBC host Michael Steele, according to a source familiar with the plans. 

Reid will host the final “ReidOut” this week.

JOY REID CLAIMS TRUMP TRANSITION TO POWER WAS ‘THE MOST VIOLENT IN US HISTORY’

“The ReidOut” cancelation won’t be the only change at MSNBC. 

MSNBC’s new president, Rebecca Kutler, is planning to announce additional programming changes across dayside, weekends and primetime, a source familiar with the plans told Fox News Digital. 

Jen Psaki, current host of “Inside with Jen Psaki,” is expected to end up with more airtime. Alex Wagner, who was bumped from hosting a primetime program when Rachel Maddow pivoted from hosting her show once a week to nightly for the first 100 days of the Trump administration, will remain with the network as a correspondent but is not expected to host a 9 p.m. ET program going forward. 

MSNBC declined comment when reached by Fox News Digital.

JOY REID SAYS BLACK WOMEN NO LONGER INTERESTED IN ‘SAVING AMERICA’ AFTER BETRAYAL BY WHITE FEMALE VOTERS

“Inside with Jen Psaki” launched in 2023 and was the brainchild of Kutler. The show is MSNBC’s most-watched weekend program, so MSNBC giving more airtime to the former Biden administration press secretary has long been rumored. 

Townsend, Steele and Menendez currently host “The Weekend,” which was also created by Kutler and launched in January 2024. Menendez, the daughter of disgraced former Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., will be the first Latina woman to host a primetime cable news program on MSNBC, as the new show will be two hours long and spill into primetime on Mondays. It will be one hour Tuesday through Friday.

MSNBC is in talks to add Politico’s Eugene Daniels and New York University law professor Melissa Murray to potentially join the network, Fox News Digital has learned. 

More changes will come, as MSNBC is currently seeking a head of talent, head of newsgathering, a Washington bureau chief and a head of content strategy. 

MSNBC also plans to add a Washington bureau and beef up domestic and international correspondents ahead of parent company Comcast’s plans to spin off several NBCUniversal cable networks, including MSNBC. The move will separate NBC News from the cable network that it has long shared resources with. 

“The ReidOut” has recently struggled to attract viewers, averaging only 973,000 total viewers during February 2025 compared to 1.3 million during the same month in 2024, marking a 28% decline. 

MSNBC’S FUTURE A ‘BIG CONCERN’ FOR STAFFERS AS COMCAST MOVES TO SEPARATE LIBERAL NETWORK FROM NBCUNIVERSAL

Reid has become infamous for anti-Trump rhetoric and controversial moments. 

Following the presidential election in November, Reid declared Black women lost interest in “saving America” as they grappled with the betrayal of White female voters who had a stronger-than-expected turnout in support of President Trump. 

Last month, Reid compared the efforts of the Trump administration to deport illegal immigrants and his policies in general to the Holocaust and Hitler’s Germany. 

One of the most shocking events in recent media history came in 2018 when Reid famously claimed that homophobic comments on her old blog, “The Reid Report,” were not written by her in a story that stunned the TV news industry. She blamed hackers and claimed to enlist the FBI to investigate her implausible claim, but she became emotional on air when her story fell apart.

The MSNBC host then admitted it was unlikely she was hacked, but claimed that she didn’t recall making the offensive remarks, for which she apologized anyway. The bizarre ordeal made her a punchline to many, but she continued to rise up MSNBC’s ranks and emerged as one of the network’s most prominent liberal pundits until her show was canceled on Sunday. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Cannibal killer walks free and is allowed to feast again while lawmakers fume over reason

An institutionalized man who confessed to the 2011 killing of a homeless man in Connecticut in which he also ate the victim’s body parts in a cemetery was granted a conditional release.

Tyree Smith was granted a conditional release by the Nutmeg State’s Psychiatric Security Review Board on Friday, allowing him to leave Connecticut Valley Hospital in Middletown, although he will remain under supervision and will continue to receive mental health services, according to WFSB.

Smith’s doctor said the cannibal killer has been rehabilitated and is taking medications to help with psychosis and voices in his head, the outlet reported.

“To quote the director there, he is a joy. He is considered a support to the other people there,” forensic psychiatrist Caren Teitelbaum said. “Once he was stable, he was a really calming presence for other patients.”

CONNECTICUT TO AWARD NEARLY $6 MILLION TO FAMILY OF DISABLED MAN WRONGFULLY IMPRISONED FOR MURDER CONVICTION

“He has maintained clinical stability. Adhered to the medications and continued to engage in group and substance abuse treatment,” Teitelbaum added. “He also denied visual hallucinations and a desire to harm others or himself.”

But others, including GOP state Sen. Paul Cicarella, contested that Smith should remain under close watch in a hospital.

“Murder and cannibalism and release in the same sentence. That’s a problem. That’s concerning to me,” he told WFSB.

Cicarella and fellow Republican state Sens. Henry Martin, Heather Somers and Stephen Harding called the decision “outrageous” and “mind-boggling.”

“This individual killed and ate part of his victim and was found not guilty by reason of insanity,” the lawmakers said in a statement. “His victim’s family raised objections about his release. What about THEM? Where is the justice for THEM? This terrible decision puts public safety in jeopardy and is yet another terrible message to send to CT violent crime victims and their families. This person should never be out. We are dumbfounded at this injustice. In what universe is this ok?”

In 2013, a three-judge panel found Smith not guilty by reason of insanity in the 2011 death of Angel Gonzalez. He was committed to Connecticut Valley Hospital for 60 years.

Smith confessed to killing the homeless man with an ax inside an abandoned home in Bridgeport before removing parts of his brain, an eye and several organs that he subsequently consumed at Lakeview Cemetery.

Gonzalez’s sister-in-law, Talitha Frazier, called on the board to continue holding Smith inside the hospital.

UCONN BECOMES FIRST IN THE STATE TO PUT EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION PLAN B ON CAMPUS

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“How do we really know he’s not going to do this again?” Frazier asked at the hearing on Friday, according to CTPost. “He had no remorse for killing Angel.”

“His grandkids are scared. His daughter is scared she couldn’t come today, her sugar dropped to 52,” she said, according to WFSB.

A diagnosed schizophrenic, Smith will first receive day passes but will be confined to the hospital’s grounds. As he makes progress, he will receive additional freedoms, such as supervised off-site visits.

Trump proves he’s not ‘a lot of talk’ as trans actor from popular show gets rude awakening

Hunter Schafer, a transgender actor and star of the HBO series “Euphoria,” revealed that her new passport was issued with a male gender marker because of an executive order signed by President Donald Trump.

Schafer, 26, posted a video on social media detailing how her passport had been stolen while she was filming in Spain. After receiving an emergency passport, she later had to apply for a new, permanent one in Los Angeles. Schafer, who transitioned to female when she was a teenager, said her original passport identified her as female, but the new one she received marked her as male.

Schafer said she wasn’t posting the video to “create drama,” “fearmonger” or “receive consolation,” but rather because she thought it was worth noting “the reality of the situation and that it is actually happening.”

“Trans people are beautiful. We are never going to stop existing. I’m never gonna stop being trans,” she said in the video. “A letter and a passport can’t change that. And f— this administration.”

DHS SUSPENDS APPROVAL OF APPLICATIONS WITH ‘X’ GENDER MARKER

Trump signed the executive order, “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” on his first day in office. The order mandates the federal government to recognize only two sexes — male and female — based on immutable biological characteristics, which must be reflected on official documents, like passports.

The State Department, responsible for passports, is no longer issuing passports with the “X” marker that’s been available since 2021 and is not honoring requests to change gender markers between “M” and “F.”

Schafer acknowledged the executive order in her TikTok video: “Because our president, you know, is a lot of talk, I was like, ‘I’ll believe it when I see it.’ And, today, I saw it,” Schafer said, holding up her new passport page with the “M” marker. 

MAINE GOVERNOR’S TRANSGENDER ATHLETE DUSTUP WITH TRUMP MADE WHITE HOUSE CONFAB ‘UNCOMFORTABLE,’ GOVERNORS SAY

The 26-year-old said she has had female gender markers on her license and passport since she was a teenager, though she noted that she did not have her birth certificate amended.

“It doesn’t really change anything about me or my transness. However, it does make my life a little harder,” Schafer said in the video, saying she has to travel for the first time with the new passport next week.

“Trans people are beautiful. We are never going to stop existing. I’m never going to stop being trans. A letter and a passport can’t change that,” she concluded.

Seven people represented by the American Civil Liberties Union have already filed a lawsuit claiming the policy violates privacy and First Amendment rights. 

CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The ACLU has said it has been contacted by more than 1,500 transgender people or family members, “many with passport applications suspended or pending, who are concerned about being able to get passports that accurately reflect their identity.”

Passenger left ‘seething’ after being asked to switch seats three times during one flight