Pope Francis has been diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs, and his latest laboratory tests and chest X-rays continue to reveal a “complex” medical picture, the Vatican announced overnight. Source: NCR Online.
“The chest CT scan that the Holy Father underwent this afternoon … demonstrated the onset of bilateral pneumonia that required further pharmacological therapy,” said a Vatican bulletin released at 7.30pm local time on Tuesday evening.
The statement noted that the 88-year-old pontiff is in a good mood and that he received the Eucharist earlier in the day.
The Pope was admitted to hospital for a respiratory tract infection on February 14 after two weeks of what Francis repeatedly referred to as bronchitis.
On Monday, a Vatican bulletin said the test results revealed a “polymicrobial infection” and that due to the “complex” clinical situation, he would require further hospitalisation. This marks the second longest hospital stay of his papacy.
The longest, a 10-day stint in 2021, was for a surgery that removed a portion of his colon. In 2023, Francis spent three nights in hospital for what was, at the time, described as bronchitis, but later revealed to be pneumonia.
A statement released earlier in the morning yesterday noted that the Pope had rested well during the night before and that he remained in good spirits. The Pope also expressed his gratitude for the prayers of support, as well as for some drawings and cards he received from children in the hospital’s paediatric oncology unit.
Despite his ongoing hospitalisation, the Pope has continued his almost daily calls with the Catholic parish in Gaza that he has spoken with each night since Israel’s war against Hamas began in 2023. According to its pastor, Francis called as recently as Monday.
“He was tired but with a clear voice,” said Fr. Gabriel Romanelli. “He asked how we were and thanked us with prayers, and gave us his blessing.”
The Vatican announced that, as expected, many of this coming weekend’s Holy Year events have been cancelled or modified.
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Vatican says Pope Francis has pneumonia in both lungs (By Christopher White, NCR Online)
