The Vatican have tonight issued a fresh update on the health of Pope Francis after a peaceful night for the Pontiff in hospital.
On Pope Francis’s sixteenth day of treatment at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for pneumonia in both lungs, the Holy Father has not required any ‘mechanical ventilation,’ say the Vatican.
The 88-year-old had been placed on non-invasive ventilation on Friday evening by doctors after suffering a coughing fit during which he inhaled vomit.
‘Today, too, the Holy Father’s clinical condition has remained stable,’ read tonight’s update from the Vatican.
‘The Pope has not required non-invasive mechanical ventilation, but only supplemental high-flow oxygenation. He does not have a fever.
‘Given the complexity of the clinical picture, the prognosis remains guarded.
‘This morning, the Holy Father participated in Holy Mass, together with those who have been caring him for him during these days of hospitalisation. Afterward, he alternated rest with prayer.’
After Friday’s worrying update concerning a ‘sudden worsening of the respiratory picture,’ news that the Pope had been able to drink coffee and read the morning papers on Saturday morning came as a promising sign – something he repeated this morning.
On Pope Francis’s sixteenth day of treatment at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for pneumonia in both lungs, the Holy Father has not required any ‘mechanical ventilation,’ say the Vatican
A doctor was pictured shutting the blinds of a ward where Pope Francis is believed to be receiving treatment at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital
Crowds continue to gather around a statue of Pope John Paul II, situated at the hospital where the current Pontiff is receiving treatment
In another update, the Vatican announced that the Pope received a visit from Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra at the hospital in which he continues to receive treatment.
Pope Francis too made a return to X today to thank well-wishers for their prayers and wish his best to Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan and Kivu.
It had been reported earlier this week that the Pontiff continued his daily contact via phone call with Gaza’s only Catholic church despite his illness.
‘I would like to thank you for your prayers, which rise up from the Lord from the hearts of so many faithful from many parts of the world,’ read his first post on X today.
‘I feel all your affection and closeness and, at this particular time, I feel as if I am “carried” and supported by all God’s people.’
The Pope, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, has lung disease and was admitted after a bout of bronchitis worsened and turned into pneumonia in both lungs.
Cardinals continue to host a daily prayer service at St Peter’s Square to pray for the health of the Pope
In a concerning update on Friday evening,
Dr John Coleman, a pulmonary critical care doctor at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, described the ‘isolated spasm’ which the Pontiff suffered on Friday as ‘extremely concerning.’
‘I think this is extremely concerning, given the fact that the Pope has been in the hospital now for over two weeks, and now he’s continuing to have these respiratory events and now had this aspiration event that is requiring even higher levels of support,’ he said.
‘So given his age and his fragile state and his previous lung resection, this is very concerning.’
Doctors have not described Francis as being in ‘critical condition’ for four days now, with his current condition described as ‘stable.’
Well-wishers around the world continue to pray the Pope’s good health, with a daily vigil service continuing to go ahead at 8pm (GMT) each evening at St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City.
At each service, Cardinals have read the Rosary Prayer with thousands gathering in the square to pray and sing hymns together.
Crowds have also been gathering outside the ward where Francis is receiving treatment in Rome, placing flowers and praying around a statue of the late Pope John Paul II which has been illuminated while the current leader of the Catholic Church battles his illness.
