Pope Francis has responded well to treatment and remains in a hospital recovering from dual pneumonia, which has recently shown “gradual and mild improvements.”
“The night was quiet. The Pope is resting,” the Vatican said in a statement.
Francis, 88, was admitted to Gemeri Hospital in Rome on February 14 after a week-long bronchitis match worsened. The doctor first diagnosed the development of complex viral, bacterial, and fungal respiratory infections, and subsequently pneumonia in both lungs.
Pope Francis shows “slight improvement” in the fourth week at the hospital, the Vatican says
Pope Francis is waving to his followers as he left Cercle Prime Minister after meeting the Luxembourg prime minister on a four-day apostle journey in Luxembourg and Belgium on September 26, 2024. (Simon Whlfahrt/AFP/Getty)
This is the fourth Sunday of the day that the Pope will not show up for his noon blessing every week, but the Vatican plans to distribute the messages he would have delivered.
The Pope’s status remained stable. He had no fever and good oxygen levels in his blood for several days, so doctors said his stability “proves a good response to treatment as a result.”
This is the first time a doctor has reported that Francis, who suffers from chronic lung disease and who removed one part of a lung when he was young, has responded well to the treatment he has been prescribed since he was admitted to the hospital more than three weeks ago.
Pope Francis is waving from his popemovie after a weekly Angelus prayer at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican on October 20, 2024. (Filippo Monteforte/AFP/Getty)
However, his prognosis is “protected,” the doctor said.
Despite Francis’ absence, the daily work of the Vatican continued with the celebration of the Holy Year, a one-quarter-century jubilee that brings pilgrims to Rome from all over the world. The Holy Year celebrates volunteers this weekend, with many extending their pilgrimage outside the hospital to pray for Francis.
Pope Francis continues to rest in hospital as the Vatican Holy Year proceeds without him
Pope Francis will attend Mass on September 10, 2024 at the Esplanade in Tacitru, Dili, East Timor. (Tigiana Fabi/Pool/AFP/Getty)
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Canada’s Cardinal Michael Cheney will preside on Sunday’s Holy Year Mass for volunteers.
The Pope uses a high flow of supplementary oxygen to help him breathe during the day and a non-invasive mechanical ventilation mask at night.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
