Pope Francis, 88, has had a restful night after his prognosis was upgraded, with doctors confirming that he is no longer in immediate danger as he continues to recover from double pneumonia.
The Vatican reported on Tuesday that the pontiff woke up around 8 am CET, marking another positive development after his prognosis was upgraded to “stable” on Monday evening. This update means that Pope Francis’s life is no longer at risk, according to his medical team. However, doctors have advised that he will remain in the hospital for several more days for treatment and will likely require a period of rehabilitation.
The pope was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital more than three weeks ago due to a severe respiratory infection. Initially treated for bronchitis, he was later diagnosed with double pneumonia. He has been receiving supplemental oxygen during the day and uses a ventilation mask at night to assist with breathing.
The latest medical update from the Vatican indicates that his condition has stabilized with noticeable improvement. “Improvements recorded in previous days were further consolidated, as confirmed by both blood tests and clinical findings, as well as by the pope’s good response to pharmacological therapy,” the Vatican said.
For the past week, Pope Francis has been described as stable, despite experiencing two episodes of “acute respiratory insufficiency” in early March. His health has been frail in recent years, having suffered from lung infections since a portion of his lung was removed in his youth.
This hospital stay marks the longest of his 12-year papacy. A sign of his improving health, Francis participated in the Vatican’s weeklong spiritual retreat via video link on Monday, joining both morning and afternoon sessions.
