Pope Francis is in stable condition and doesn't have a fever, the Vatican shared on Sunday (Monday AEDT). This comes just days after he experienced a sudden respiratory episode and was hospitalized, where he’s been battling double pneumonia.
Though Pope Francis isn't directly affected by the respiratory episode from last Friday, doctors are still keeping a close eye on his health. Vatican sources mentioned that the situation remains "complex," and the "risk of crisis" still exists. Last Friday, the 88-year-old pontiff had trouble breathing, which was worsened by vomiting. He needed high-flow oxygen through a mask but wasn’t intubated.
The Vatican reports that Francis is now receiving high-flow oxygen via nose cannulas. However, it’s still uncertain how long he’ll stay in the hospital.
On a positive note, the Vatican said that the pope had a peaceful night, took part in Holy Mass, and even followed his usual morning routine, which includes having coffee and reading the newspapers before continuing his treatment. Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra visited him at the hospital on Sunday.
The pope also expressed his closeness to the people during his Angelus prayer, which he’s believed to have written himself in recent days. In it, he appealed for peace, highlighting conflicts in Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan, and Kivu. He also spoke about his illness, calling it a chance to share in the suffering of others.
Francis has been in and out of Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for over two weeks, dealing with lung issues like bronchitis and pneumonia. This is his fourth and longest hospital stay since becoming pope in 2013. He’s faced lung-related health problems for most of his life, even undergoing surgery in his youth to remove part of a lung due to pneumonia.
In light of his condition, the Vatican has cleared the pope’s schedule for medical treatment. He won’t be leading this week’s Ash Wednesday service, marking the start of Lent, for only the second time in his papacy. Instead, a cardinal will lead the service.
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