Pope Francis’ Health Improves, Spends Serene Night in Hospital
Update on Pope Francis’ Condition:
The Vatican Press Office announced on Thursday morning that Pope Francis, 88, who has been hospitalized for a double lung pneumonia since Friday, had a peaceful night. The brief statement read, "The night was serene, the pope got up, and he had breakfast in an armchair." This confirms a gradual improvement in his health, as the previous day, the Vatican had only mentioned that he had woken up and eaten.
Pope Francis was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital with bronchitis on Friday, but the Holy See revealed on Tuesday that he had developed pneumonia in both lungs, a potentially life-threatening infection of the lung tissue. On Wednesday, the Vatican assured that "the blood tests examined by medical staff show a slight improvement, particularly in the inflammatory indices."
Concerns and False Information:
This hospitalization has sparked concerns as the pope, who has a demanding schedule, has been weakened by a series of health issues in recent years, including colon and abdominal surgery and difficulties walking. These concerns have been compounded by the spread of false information on social media, including reports of the pope’s death in various languages.
Pope’s Activities During Hospitalization:
Despite his hospitalization, Pope Francis received his closest collaborators on Wednesday, with whom he worked, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who stayed with him for about 20 minutes. Meloni’s reassuring comments, as the first external figure to visit the pope outside of his medical team, came at an opportune time: "I am very happy to have found him alert and responsive. We joked as always. He has not lost his famous sense of humor."
Medical Condition and Outlook:
A Vatican source indicated on Wednesday that the pope is able to get up and sit in an armchair. He is breathing on his own, but he may intermittently receive oxygen assistance. His heart is "holding up very well." However, this illness "definitely represents a difficult situation" for the pope, according to Andrea Ungar, a professor of Geriatrics at the University of Florence, who was interviewed by AFP.
The infection "has spread from one lung to the other through the bronchi (…) and can cause respiratory failure," observed Ungar, who emphasized the importance for the pope to remain "active." Outside the Gemelli Hospital, the faithful continue to light candles with the pope’s image as a sign of support, while Catholics around the world have been urged to pray for his recovery.
Pope’s Resilience and Health History:
Despite repeated health scares in recent years – hip problems, knee pain that has forced him to use a wheelchair, surgeries, respiratory infections – Jorge Bergoglio, known for his strength of character, has maintained a relentless pace, much to the dismay of his doctors who have repeatedly asked him to slow down.
Before his hospitalization, the Bishop of Rome had appeared frail, with a swollen face and a breathless voice, and had repeatedly delegated the reading of his speeches to his assistants. In 2023, he had already been hospitalized for three days with bronchitis.
