Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani arrives for a ceremony marking the 24th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., September 11, 2025. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper
(New York, New York) – Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is recovering after a frightening medical episode that reportedly became serious enough for a priest to be called to his bedside.
Giuliani had been hospitalized while battling pneumonia, with his condition raising deep concern among family, friends and supporters. At one point, the former mayor was reportedly placed on a ventilator as doctors worked to stabilize him.
The situation later improved, with Giuliani coming off the ventilator in what those close to him described as a dramatic turnaround. For supporters, the news brought relief after days of uncertainty surrounding the 81-year-old former mayor’s health.
Giuliani remains one of the most recognizable figures in modern New York history. He first made his name as a federal prosecutor, later served two terms as mayor, and became known worldwide for his leadership after the September 11 attacks.
His later years have been marked by political battles, legal fights and his close alliance with President Trump. But for many New Yorkers, the latest news is about something simpler: a former mayor fighting through a major health crisis.
