Pope Francis has been hospitalized for pneumonia for nearly a month. Doctors say he is out of danger but still needs to be hospitalized for treatment. The medical team decided to keep the 88-year-old pontiff in the hospital for observation for several more days to receive further medication.
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03-12, 2025The latest news shows that the Pope's condition is stabilizing, and various indicators have improved. Doctors have confirmed this through blood tests and positive responses to medication. The Vatican stated that doctors have canceled the previous "cautious" prognosis, meaning that the Pope is no longer in life-threatening danger from the respiratory infection he was admitted for on February 14, but vigilance is still required.
The Vatican statement pointed out: "Considering the complexity of the clinical situation and the severity of the infection at the time of admission, the Pope still needs to continue to receive medication in a hospital environment for several days." This indicates that although the situation has improved, caution is still necessary.
Signs of improvement in the Pope's health also include his participation in a week-long Lenten retreat held by the Vatican via video conference on Monday (Tuesday, Australian Eastern Time), attending both morning and afternoon sessions. He could see and hear the talks of Father Roberto Repole, the spiritual director of the Roman Curia, but the priests, bishops, and cardinals gathered in the Vatican auditorium for the retreat could not see or hear him.
This week, Father Repole is conducting a series of meditations on the "hope of eternal life," a theme chosen long before Pope Francis was admitted to the Gemelli Hospital in Rome on February 14 with a complex lung infection. This annual gathering marks the Catholic Church's entry into the solemn season of Lent, in preparation for Easter. The Vatican said the Pope would participate "spiritually with" the other senior clergy in the retreat.
Pope Francis has also resumed physical and respiratory therapy at the Gemelli Hospital, resting and praying in between. He uses a nasal cannula for oxygen during the day and a non-invasive mechanical ventilation mask at night to help him breathe, and he is continuing to receive these treatments today.
Last month, the 88-year-old Pope, who suffers from chronic lung disease and had part of his lung removed when he was young, was admitted to the hospital for bronchitis. The infection developed into a complex respiratory infection and bilateral pneumonia, making the Pope's hospitalization the longest of his 12-year papacy and raising concerns about the future.
Pope Francis is still following developments. The Vatican said he is aware of the flooding in Argentina and has expressed concern for the affected people. In addition, a Vatican cardinal close to the Pope has publicly refuted some of the negative media reports circulating during his absence.
The Vatican Development Office released a letter from Cardinal Michael Czerny to Juan Grabois, an Argentine social justice activist and close friend of the Pope. Grabois traveled to Rome to pray for the Pope at the Gemelli Hospital, and some Italian media reported last month that he had tried to force his way into the Pope's suite on the 10th floor of the hospital, but he denied the claim.
In the letter dated March 6, Czerny told Grabois that the Pope "knows of your presence in Rome, and of your daily prayer vigils and spiritual solidarity at the Gemelli Polyclinic, which I believe gave him real comfort and support." Czerny wrote: "Furthermore, I know that you, like me, strongly condemn the unfounded claims circulating in certain media regarding improper conduct at the hospital."
The Vatican is always rife with rumors, but with speculation about the Pope's health and discussions about electing a Pope, the rumors have reached a fever pitch, even though the Pope is still alive and in charge. The fact that Cardinal Czerny felt it necessary to defend one of the Pope's friends indicates that the rumors and machinations during the Pope's absence have crossed the line.
Thursday will mark the 12th anniversary of Pope Francis' election, the first time it will be celebrated in his absence but while he remains in power. Pope Francis was elected the 266th Pope on March 13, 2013, the first Jesuit Pope and the first from Latin America, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI.
