Pope Francis continues to improve and the 88-year-old pontiff remains without fever and with a well-functioning heart, as he carries on his hospital recovery from double pneumonia. Source: NCR Online.
“The clinical conditions of the Holy Father are slightly improving,” announced a Vatican bulletin released at just after 7:30 pm local time (5.30am AEDT).
“He is without fever and his hemodynamic parameters continue to be stable.”
Francis has now spent seven days in hospital, after first being admitted for a respiratory tract infection on February 14. By February 18, the Vatican acknowledged that the Pope’s condition had deteriorated and that he was battling pneumonia in both lungs.
Medical reports have repeatedly described the Pope’s clinical condition as “complex,” but in recent days, Vatican statements have trended in a positive direction.
A brief statement released earlier yesterday noted the Pope was able to have breakfast sitting in an armchair.
Notwithstanding the long hospitalisation, papal advisers have advised against alarmism.
Vatican sources note that the Pope continues to breathe on his own, but also acknowledge a lengthy hospitalisation is likely. To date, Francis’ longest hospitalisation was a 10-day stay in 2021 following an intestinal operation.
Despite the Pope’s closely watched medical care, business is proceeding mostly as usual around the Vatican.
High-profile cardinals are continuing to travel, nominations of new bishops are being rolled out and visitors participating in events related to the 2025 Jubilee Year are flowing through St Peter’s Square to make a pilgrimage through the Holy Door.
Even so, the Pope’s medical crisis has managed to cast a shadow over many of these activities.
At a Vatican press conference yesterday for an upcoming initiative promoting peacebuilding around the Mediterranean, many of the questions circled around the octogenarian Pope’s health.
Barcelona’s Cardinal Juan José Omella Omella told reporters that while he doesn’t have a holistic understanding of the Pope’s medical records, “it seems that he is doing much better”.
Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline of Marseille joked that hospitalisation is the only way to get the notoriously stubborn Francis to take a break.
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Pope Francis, battling pneumonia, continues to improve, but long recovery anticipated (By Christopher White, NCR Online)
