Pope Francis condition remains serious but not life-threatening, his medical team reported Friday evening, as the 88-year-old pontiff marked a week in the hospital battling pneumonia alongside chronic bronchitis.
Francis’ doctors delivered their first in-person update on the pope’s condition, saying that he will remain hospitalized at least all of next week.
Why It Matters
Francis was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on February 14 after his bronchitis worsened. Physicians later identified a complex respiratory infection involving bacteria, viruses, and other organisms, which led to pneumonia in both lungs atop his asthmatic bronchitis. They have prescribed “absolute rest.”
The Vatican said Thursday that while Francis’ heart remains strong, his response to treatments is still being evaluated.
What To Know
The Holy See Press Office announced on Thursday that Pope Francis’ condition had shown a “slight improvement.”
Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni clarified the situation, stating, “Is he out of danger? No. But if the question is ‘is he in danger of death,’ the answer is ‘no.'”
According to Bruni, the Pope remains fever-free, his hemodynamic parameters are stable, and he is breathing without assistance. The official statement echoed this, adding that Francis received the Eucharist in the morning before resuming his work activities.
Doctors provided their first in-person update, confirming that Francis will remain hospitalized at least through next week. He is receiving occasional oxygen support and responding well to intensified drug therapy for pneumonia.
Despite his hospitalization, the Pope has remained engaged in his duties. He has continued making bishop appointments and, on Wednesday, met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who noted that he “joked around as always.”
While his condition is improving, medical staff remain cautious. Francis’ history of lung complications makes him particularly vulnerable to respiratory infections. As a young man, he suffered from pleurisy, which led to the partial removal of one lung.
What People Are Saying
When asked about Francis’ potential resignation, Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, the archbishop of Marseille, said: “Everything is possible.”
Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi told RTL 102.5 radio: “There is no question that if [Francis] was in a situation where his ability to have direct contact [with people] as he likes to do…was compromised, then I think he might decide to resign.”
Giovanni Maria Vian, former editor of the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano said: “I think the dictum of ‘A pope is fine until he’s dead’ is always true…It’s a very Roman way of speaking that represents, on the one hand, the traditional skepticism of Romans and Italians, but on the other hand, an informational opacity.”
What Happens Next
As his hospitalization continues, speculation about a possible resignation has emerged among some of his cardinals. While Francis has acknowledged that retirement is an option—especially after Pope Benedict XVI set a precedent—he has recently reaffirmed that he views the papacy as a lifelong role, showing no signs of stepping down.
Francis confirmed in 2022 that, shortly after being elected pontiff, he wrote a resignation letter in case medical problems impeded him from carrying out his duties. There is no provision in canon law for what to do if a pope becomes incapacitated.
Reporting by The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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