ROME :Pope Francis is responding well to treatment for double pneumonia, showing a “gradual, slight improvement” in recent days, the Vatican reported Saturday. However, doctors have maintained a guarded prognosis, emphasizing that the 88-year-old pontiff is not yet out of danger.
Francis, who has a history of chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed in his youth, has remained stable with no fever and healthy oxygen levels in his blood for several days. Vatican doctors stated that this stability indicates a positive response to therapy. It marks the first official acknowledgment of the pope’s improvement since he was hospitalized on February 14.
Throughout Saturday, Francis alternated between work and rest as he entered his fourth week at Rome’s Gemelli hospital. His condition had previously worsened due to acute respiratory crises, but his health has since stabilized.
“In order to ensure these initial improvements continue in the coming days, his doctors have prudently kept the prognosis as guarded,” the Vatican statement read.
Vatican Operations Continue Amid Pope’s Absence
While Francis remains hospitalized, Vatican operations have proceeded under the leadership of senior clergy. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, celebrated Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica for an anti-abortion group, delivering a message from the pope advocating for the protection of life from conception to natural death.
Canadian Cardinal Michael Czerny, a close advisor to Francis, presided over the nightly prayer service dedicated to the pope’s recovery and is set to lead the Holy Year Mass for volunteers on Sunday—a ceremony Francis had originally been scheduled to celebrate.
Pope’s Health and Future Concerns
Doctors have been administering high-flow supplemental oxygen to assist the pope’s breathing during the day, while he uses a noninvasive mechanical ventilation mask at night.
Francis was initially hospitalized for what was thought to be bronchitis, but the illness developed into a more complex respiratory infection and double pneumonia. The prolonged hospitalization—the longest of his 12-year papacy—has raised speculation about his long-term health and ability to fulfill his duties.
Despite his condition, Vatican officials emphasize that the pope remains engaged and continues to oversee Church matters from his hospital room.
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