Pope Francis is currently recovering from double pneumonia after being hospitalized for over three weeks. The Vatican reported some positive news on Sunday, stating that the 88-year-old pontiff is responding well to treatment and showing gradual improvement.
After a calm night, the Vatican updated that the Pope was resting comfortably. This Sunday marks the fourth consecutive week without his traditional noon blessing, although the Vatican plans to share the text he would have delivered had he been well.
The Argentine Pope, who has a chronic lung condition and underwent surgery to remove part of a lung in his youth, has been stable, with sustained good oxygen levels and no fever for several days. Doctors affirmed that this stability indicates a favorable response to his ongoing therapy. However, they have cautiously described his prognosis as “guarded,” indicating that he is still in a risky situation.
During the Pope’s absence, the Vatican continues its regular operations, including festivities for the Holy Year, an event that draws millions of pilgrims to Rome every 25 years. This Sunday, Cardinal Michael Czerny, a close associate of the Pope, led the Holy Year Mass for volunteers, a service that Francis was originally set to officiate.
As Pope Francis uses supplemental oxygen to aid his breathing and employs a noninvasive ventilation mask at night, concerns about his health and the future of his papacy persist. Initially admitted for a severe bronchitis case on February 14, his condition has since escalated to a serious respiratory tract infection and double pneumonia, marking the longest hospitalization of his 12-year papacy.
