The pope, who was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli University Hospital on February 14, is also reducing his use of mechanical ventilation at night to help with his breathing
Pope Francis has entered his fifth week of hospital treatment for double pneumonia and is continuing the work of his papacy as signs of his recovery remain positive.
Francis remains in stable condition, “confirming the progress” the 88-year-old pontiff has made in the past week, the Vatican said on Saturday.
The pope, who was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli University Hospital on February 14, is also reducing his use of mechanical ventilation at night to help with his breathing, a statement added.
Doctors this week said Francis was no longer in critical, life-threatening condition but have continued to emphasise that his condition remained complex due to his age, lack of mobility and the loss of part of a lung as a young man.
The first three weeks of his hospitalisation were marked by a roller-coaster of setbacks, including respiratory crises, mild kidney failure and a severe coughing fit.
But Francis has continued his work. He has approved a three-year implementation and evaluation process for a reform project that aims to make the Roman Catholic Church more welcoming and responsive. The Vatican office for the Synod of Bishops released a timetable through 2028 to implement the reforms and said Francis had approved the calendar last week.
This week, the pope also participated in Lenten spiritual exercises from the hospital, which Vatican officials have said implied a lighter workload. He received a cake and hundreds of messages wishing him well on the 12th anniversary of his papacy on Thursday.
The only public sign of life from the pope since his hospitalisation was a recorded audio message thanking people for their prayers for his recovery, which he made in a weak, laboured voice. It was played in St Peter’s Square for the faithful gathered for a nightly recitation of the rosary.
For the past four Sundays, the traditional blessing that the pope usually delivers from a window overlooking St Peter’s Square has been released as a text.
Last week, he Vatican provided an update on Pope Francis’ health, noting that given his ongoing improvements, the Pope’s prognosis is no longer “guarded.”
On Monday morning, the Pope received the Eucharist after attending the Curia’s Spiritual Exercises. The Roman Curia’s Spiritual Exercises, are being led by the Preacher of the Papal Household, Fr. Roberto Pasolini.
On Monday, the Pope sent a telegram of prayers and closeness to those who have experienced deadly flooding in the Argentinian port city of Bahia Blanca as well as the nearby city of Cerri.
In his message, Pope Francis expressed his sadness for the natural disaster affecting the region surrounding Bahia Blanca, which, he acknowledged, claimed many lives and causing massive damage.
“I offer fervent prayers for the eternal rest of the deceased. I wish to express my spiritual closeness to the entire population, beseeching the Lord to grant comfort to the bereaved and to all those who are suffering in these moments of pain and uncertainty,” and prayed the Lord also “sustain with His grace” all those committed to searching for the missing and undertaking “the arduous process of rebuilding the devastated areas.”
Earlier in a message on X, Pope Francis said, “I think of the many people who find various ways to be close to the sick, becoming a sign of the Lord’s presence for them. We need this “miracle of tenderness” to accompany those who face adversity, in order to bring a little light into the night of pain.”
However, there was good news regarding the health of the Holy Father as a latest bulletin from the Vatican, that was released on the eve of the 12th anniversary of the election of Pope Francis, said that his condition was improving and he was no longer in immediate danger.
Pope Francis’ recovery from double pneumonia continued on Wednesday as a chest X-ray confirmed improvement, two days after doctors declared that he is no longer in imminent danger of death.
However, there was no news of when the Pope would be discharged from hospital and even though the medical bulletin said his condition was stable now it gave a complex picture regarding his overall fragile health condition.
Media reports said that on Wednesday Pope Francis followed its spiritual retreat remotely, and resumed physical and respiratory therapy after a quiet night of rest at the hospital.
On Friday Pope Francis will mark four weeks of hospitalization as he continues to receive high flows of oxygen through nasal tubes during the day, and a non-invasive mechanical mask to aid his rest at night.
The Pope’s weekly Wednesday general audience was canceled since the Vatican hierarchy is on retreat this week as part of the Lenten spiritual exercises that have been a mainstay of the Jesuit pope’s pontificate.
