Pope Francis’ recovery from double pneumonia continued Wednesday, with a chest X-ray confirming improvement, just two days after doctors ruled out any imminent threat to his life.
The latest medical update described his condition as stable but noted the complexity of his health given his overall fragility. The 88-year-old pope remotely followed the Vatican’s Lenten spiritual retreat and resumed physical and respiratory therapy after a quiet night. He continues to receive high-flow oxygen through nasal tubes during the day and uses a non-invasive mechanical mask at night to aid his breathing.
His weekly Wednesday general audience was canceled, as the Vatican hierarchy remains on retreat, following a tradition that has been a key part of Francis’ Jesuit-inspired pontificate.
The Vatican has yet to release any photos or videos of Francis since his admission. Last week, he recorded an audio message thanking people for their prayers, though his frail voice and breathlessness underscored his weakened state.
Pope Francis Milestones
This week marks significant milestones for the pope. Thursday marks the 12th anniversary of his election as the 266th pope, though the Vatican has not announced any public commemorations. No medical bulletin will be issued that day.
Francis was elected in 2013 on the fifth ballot following Pope Benedict XVI’s historic resignation. While Francis once suggested he might follow Benedict’s example, he has more recently stated that the papacy is a lifelong commitment.
On Friday, Francis will mark four weeks of hospitalization, placing him on track to match the second-longest stay for a modern pope—28 days, set by St. John Paul II in 1994 following hip surgery. John Paul holds the record at 55 days for a hospital stay in 1981 after surgery and treatment for an infection.
What People Are Saying
Dr. Carmelo D’Asero, an infectious diseases specialist and expert in geriatric diseases, said Francis was clearly making slow and gradual progress, but still had not recovered fully.
“We must not forget that he has been hospitalized for one month,” said D’Asero, who is not involved in Francis’ care. He noted that the arrival of spring in Rome should help. Francis’ bronchitis typically flares during the winter months.
“We are entering a warm season, which is surely good for those who suffer of respiratory diseases,” he said. “I think he will go back to work, but with smaller workloads and with a constantly monitored oxygen therapy.”
Sister Maria Letizia Salazar, a nun who was praying for Francis on Tuesday outside the Gemelli hospital, said following Tuesday’s positive update: “It really makes me happy, because we were sad as it looked like he was not recovering.
“But now that I’ve got this news, I am very happy.”
