Pope Francis Recovers from Pneumonia, Continues Treatment and Physiotherapy
Vatican City: Update on the Pope’s Condition
Pope Francis, the 88-year-old head of the global Catholic Church, is recovering from pneumonia and is undergoing physiotherapy, the Vatican announced on Saturday. The Pope, who has been in a special papal suite at Rome’s Gemelli hospital since February 14, has been in a "complex clinical condition" and his prognosis remains guarded.
A Quiet Night and Physiotherapy
The Vatican reported that the Pope had a quiet night and has been going on with treatment and physiotherapy this morning. This comes after a recent respiratory crisis on Monday, but the Vatican has described his condition as "stable" for several days now.
A Message of Gratitude
On Thursday, the Pope released an audio message, the first time his voice has been heard since he was admitted to the hospital. In the message, he thanked those praying for his recovery, sounding weak and breathless despite marking three weeks of treatment at the Gemelli. "I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers for my health from the Square. I accompany you from here," he said, taking laboured breaths every couple of words.
Resting and Praying
The Pope has been resting and praying, spending around 20 minutes in the little chapel inside the hospital’s papal suite on Friday. He continues to switch between an oxygen mask at night and a cannula, a plastic tube tucking into the nostrils, delivering high-flow oxygen during the day. Although he has been doing bits of work when possible, his health remains a top priority.
A Message from the Pope’s Office
On Saturday, Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin read aloud a message on the Pope’s behalf during a mass in St Peter’s Basilica. The Pope had worked on the message from hospital just a few days ago, on March 5.
Transparency and Updates
In a bid for greater transparency, the Vatican has been publishing an update on how the Pope slept every morning, followed by a more detailed medical bulletin each evening. On Thursday, it was announced that there would be no medical bulletin on Friday evening, with the next one due later on Saturday.
The Future of the Angelus
The Vatican press office has stated that it is "quite probable" that the Angelus will be delivered this Sunday "in the same way" as in previous weeks, when it was published as a letter released at noon. This will be the first time the Pope has appeared publicly since his hospitalization.
A Series of Health Issues
This is the longest and most serious hospitalization of the Pope’s papacy, following a series of health issues in recent years, including colon surgery in 2021 and a hernia operation in 2023.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Pope’s current condition?
A: The Pope is recovering from pneumonia and is undergoing physiotherapy.
Q: How long has the Pope been in the hospital?
A: The Pope has been in the hospital since February 14.
Q: What is the prognosis for the Pope’s recovery?
A: The prognosis remains guarded.
Q: Will the Pope appear publicly again?
A: The Vatican has stated that it is "quite probable" that the Angelus will be delivered this Sunday "in the same way" as in previous weeks.