MANILA – Fr. Gregory Gaston, rector of the Pontificio Collegio Filippino in Rome, has called on the public to stop sharing false and unverified reports about Pope Francis’ health. This comes after a fake announcement using the name “Jesuits” falsely claimed the Pope had passed away.
Fr. Gaston urged caution, stressing the importance of verifying information before sharing it online. He also pointed out that some unauthorized sources even misuse the Vatican News logo to deceive people.
“Please be cautious about spreading false reports regarding Pope Francis’ death,” Gaston said in a statement published on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) website.
The Jesuit Communications also warned against sharing the unauthorized post, clarifying that it came from an illegitimate group. They reminded the public to refer only to official sources for accurate information.
The Holy See Press Office, in a statement released Sunday evening, confirmed that the Pope’s condition remains critical but stable, with no new respiratory crises. Pope Francis, 88, continues to receive oxygen therapy and is alert and oriented.
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