Pope Francis, 88, is responding “positively” to medical treatment for pneumonia, according to the Vatican, a week after being hospitalized in Rome.
Pope Francis, who received the Eucharist, “devoted himself to work activities” after a “slight” improvement in his health, according to a Vatican statement issued on Thursday.
‘’The pope had oxygen to assist his breathing,” the spokesperson said, adding that his heart is holding up well and he has no fever.
Pope Francis was hospitalized to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in the Italian capital on February 14 and first tested for a respiratory tract infection. A subsequent CT scan revealed that he had pneumonia in both lungs. Francis, who is from Argentina, is prone to respiratory illnesses.
As a young man, he had a severe case of pneumonia that necessitated the removal of part of one lung.
In 2021, doctors surgically removed a portion of his colon due to diverticulitis, which can cause intestinal inflammation or infection.
In 2023, he was hospitalized for pneumonia, and in recent months, he fell twice, bruising his chin and injuring his arm, which was slinged.
Friday marks a week after his admission to the Gemelli hospital, which is the third-longest stay he has had since becoming pope.
His doctors have suggested “complete rest” for the pope, whose public appearances have been canceled until at least Saturday.
On Wednesday, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni paid him a 20-minute visit.
“We joked as always. He hasn’t lost his proverbial sense of humour,” the prime minister said in a statement.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli
