Holy See Reports Improvements, Suggesting Pope May Soon Leave Hospital
Pope Francis is responding positively to his hospital treatment for double pneumonia, and his doctors no longer fear for his life, according to the Vatican.
On Monday, the Vatican stated that the 88-year-old pontiff’s condition is now “stable,” with doctors upgrading their earlier prognosis from “guarded,” indicating he is out of immediate danger and could soon be discharged from the hospital.
Francis has been hospitalized at Rome’s Gemelli University Hospital for over three weeks, having been admitted on February 14 with a severe respiratory infection that required ongoing treatment. The pope’s doctors noted “improvements” in recent days, which were confirmed by “blood tests and clinical assessments, as well as a good response to his drug treatments,” the Vatican said.
Doctors expect Francis to continue medical treatment in the hospital for a few more days, though no specific discharge date was provided.
The pope had been under a “guarded” prognosis for most of his hospital stay, meaning he was not out of imminent danger. Over the past week, his condition has been described as stable or improving, following two episodes of “acute respiratory insufficiency” on March 3.
On Monday, the Vatican also reported that Francis is undergoing respiratory physiotherapy to aid his breathing, along with some physical therapy to improve his mobility, as he has relied on a wheelchair in recent years due to knee and back pain.
Francis is receiving oxygen through a small nasal tube during the day and noninvasive mechanical ventilation at night while sleeping.
The pope has faced multiple health challenges over the past two years and is susceptible to lung infections, having suffered from pleurisy as a young adult and having part of one lung removed. Double pneumonia, a serious infection affecting both lungs, can cause inflammation and scarring, making breathing difficult.
Despite his hospitalization, Francis has continued to work intermittently and stay informed about global events, including the deadly floods that have struck his native Argentina.
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