According to the statement, the Pope has no fever, his white blood cell count is normal, and his vital signs remain stable. He is eating on his own and actively participating in respiratory physiotherapy. There have been no further episodes of bronchospasm
Pope Francis is in stable condition as he continues to receive medical care, Vatican News reported, citing the Holy See Press Office’s announcement on Saturday.
He is alternating between non-invasive mechanical ventilation and high-flow oxygen therapy, responding well to treatment.
According to the statement, the Pope has no fever, his white blood cell count is normal, and his vital signs remain stable. He is eating on his own and actively participating in respiratory physiotherapy. There have been no further episodes of bronchospasm.
“The Holy Father does not have a fever and shows no leukocytosis [high white blood cell count]. His haemodynamic parameters have always remained stable; he has continued to eat on his own and has regularly undergone respiratory physiotherapy, in which he cooperates actively. He has not experienced any further episodes of bronchospasm,” the statement said. The statement also confirmed that Pope Francis is alert and oriented. On Saturday afternoon, he received the Eucharist and spent time in prayer.
Earlier in the day, he prayed for about 20 minutes in the chapel near his hospital room. “The Holy Father remains alert and oriented. He received the Eucharist on Saturday afternoon, then devoted himself to prayer. The prognosis remains guarded,” the statement said.
“The Pope remains in good humour. Today he prayed in the chapel near his hospital room for around twenty minutes,” it added.
It is unclear how long he will remain in hospital. The Vatican said earlier on Friday that Francis would not be leading the church service on 5 March to mark the beginning of Lent.
Francis was admitted to hospital on 14 February and was subsequently diagnosed with a respiratory tract infection and pneumonia in both lungs.
He is prone to lung infections because he developed pleurisy as a young adult and had part of one lung removed while he was training to be a priest in his native Argentina.
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Nightly prayer vigils for the pope’s health are continuing to take place at St Peter’s Basilica as well as in towns and cities across Italy and abroad. Vigils have also been held outside the Gemelli, which has long been the preferred hospital for pontiffs.
The pope has suffered from ill health in recent years. He was admitted to hospital in March 2023 for what was eventually diagnosed as pneumonia. He also underwent a colon operation in June 2021. The pontiff has often been seen using a wheelchair or a walking stick as a result of sciatic nerve pain and a knee problem.
Before his hospital admission, the pope maintained an intense schedule, especially with events related to the Catholic jubilee year.
The episode at Gemelli hospital in Rome came after three days in which the pope’s health had shown slight improvements, meaning his situation was no longer considered critical. “The pope spent a peaceful night and is resting,” the Vatican said on Saturday.
Francis was admitted to hospital on 14 February with bronchitis, but his condition deteriorated into double pneumonia.
He is prone to lung infections because he developed pleurisy as a young adult and had part of one lung removed while he was training to be a priest in his native Argentina. Medical experts have said that Francis’s age and the chronic respiratory disease from which he suffers mean a sustained recovery will take time.
The pope was admitted to hospital in March 2023 for what was eventually diagnosed as pneumonia, and underwent a colon operation in June 2021. He has often been seen using a wheelchair or a walking stick as a result of sciatic nerve pain and a knee problem.
