POPE FRANCIS RECEIVING HUNDREDS OF LETTERS WEEKLY AT GEMELLI HOSPITAL

ROME, ITALY • Poste Italiane reports a significant increase in mail volume directed to the Vatican, with hundreds of letters, drawings, and well wishes arriving weekly for Pope Francis during his hospital stay at Gemelli Polyclinic. This surge in correspondence reflects global devotion and concern for his health, coinciding with his 12th anniversary as Pontiff.

Rome, Italy, March 14, 2025 – 7:02 PM – Hundreds of letters from faithful around the world arrive daily for the Holy Father, expressing devotion, solidarity, and comfort during his current stay at Gemelli Polyclinic. Since his hospitalization, Poste Italiane's sorting center in Fiumicino has seen a surge in mail volume destined for the Vatican: "Up to 150 kg of extra mail per day," explains Antonello Chidichimo, head of the sorting center. These letters add to the approximately 2 million small postal items, 15,000 kg of volumetric mail, and 250,000 postal items that arrive at Poste Italiane's hub daily.

Mail Destined for the Holy Father

Upon arrival, the daily mail flow undergoes necessary security checks before being sorted to its final destinations. Mail processing for the Holy See is handled by the CFSM, a specific machine that registers and weighs recorded mail, using a computerized system (IPS) to ensure traceability and organization. Once this step is complete, dispatches are prepared for final delivery. The next stop is Poste Italiane's Rome Belsito Distribution Center, located in the northern part of the capital, which also covers the area of the Gemelli Polyclinic. Here, correspondence is further sorted and organized into dedicated mailboxes for "major clients," including the polyclinic that currently hosts the Pontiff. In recent days, the flow of letters and messages addressed to Pope Francis has been particularly intense, a sign of the international community's affection and closeness.

From Children, Schools, Associations, Italy, and Abroad

In recent days, Pope Francis has received several hundred drawings, messages wishing him well both for his health and for the twelfth anniversary of his election, and letters from children, young people, students from private schools, public schools, sports associations, and religious institutions. Many sick children have also thought to send their best wishes to the Pope.

A Further Sign of Affection and Support

"Hundreds of letters arrive every week; it's always moving to see letters from all over the world addressed to the Holy Father," says Andrea Di Tommaso, head of the Rome Belsito Distribution Center. "In this delicate moment, it is a further sign of affection and participation." Every morning, as sorting operations resume, new letters join this route, demonstrating Poste Italiane's fundamental role in ensuring that every message of support and prayer reaches its destination.