Pope Francis’ medical team has increased the pontiff’s respiratory physiotherapy and active motor therapy as his doctors seek to ramp up his recovery from double pneumonia, the Vatican said this morning. Source: NCR Online.
“The Holy Father also remained stationary today without presenting episodes of respiratory failure,” said a Vatican statement released overnight at 7.25 pm local time (5.25am AEDT).
The medical bulletin also noted that the pontiff spent the day in an armchair and engaged in work activities. The Pope’s “active motor therapy” (or physiotherapy) is aimed to assist the pontiff’s movements after spending much of the last three weeks in a hospital bed.
As has been the case since the beginning of his hospitalisation, the pontiff’s prognosis “remains guarded,” meaning he is not yet out of danger.
Francis has alternated between a mechanical ventilator and high-flow oxygen therapy over the past 72 hours and a similar course of treatment is expected over the next 24 hours.
Yesterday marked the 88-year-old pontiff’s 20th day in hospital. The latest positive developments come right at the start of Lent, a time in which Catholics around the world are called to prayer, fasting and charitable works in the lead up to Easter.
The Vatican said the Pope participated in a private rite of blessing of the Holy Ashes and received the Eucharist.
He also phoned Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest of the Holy Family church in Gaza, which he has called almost nightly since the start of Israel’s siege of the Gaza Strip.
In a new interview, Polish Cardinal Konrad Krajewski — who led the March 2 Rosary service for the Pope’s health — said the nightly vigils at St Peter’s Square will continue “until the Pope returns to the Vatican.”
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Pope Francis spends Ash Wednesday in hospital, but with positive recovery signs (By Christopher White and Camillo Barone, NCR Online)
