Health Condition of Pope Francis "Continues to Improve"
The 88-year-old, who is suffering from a severe lung infection, has received oxygen physiotherapy. Additionally, he has been supplied with oxygen through a breathing mask.
Pope Francis Has Never Been Hospitalized Longer
Nevertheless, an early discharge is not expected. "Given the complexity of the illness, further days of clinical stability are required," the statement said. The head of the Catholic Church was admitted to the university clinic two weeks ago on Friday. Meanwhile, the Pontiff has been in the hospital longer than ever before.
On March 13 - in two weeks - it will be twelve years since the Argentine was elected Pope. It is speculated that Francis will definitely want to be back in the Vatican by then. On Thursday, he received physiotherapy twice. In the afternoon, the Pope received communion, prayed, and then worked in his section on the tenth floor of the hospital.
However, doctors still point out how dangerous such a severe lung infection is at Francis' age. The General Director of the Gemelli Clinic Foundation, Marco Elefanti, described the Pope's health condition in a speech as "actually quite critical." Although there is a "slightly positive development that makes us a little more optimistic, but always within a general framework as we have described."
Pope Without Major Breathing Attacks Since Weekend
Due to his breathing problems, the Pope received additional high-dose oxygen through a tube in his nose several times in recent days. Apparently, this therapy is working: Since the weekend, he has not had any major breathing attacks, according to official reports. Blood values have also improved. Additionally, he is receiving a range of medications, including cortisone. He has not been seen in public since his admission in mid-February.
Speculation was fueled by the announcement that Francis wants to convene a consistory, a gathering of cardinals. This fueled rumors of a resignation, as the German Pope Benedict XVI unexpectedly resigned from his office at such a consistory in February 2013. The Vatican has repeatedly denied all speculation about Francis' thoughts of resignation. There is no date yet for the consistory.
Due to the hospital stay, a planned audience for the Holy Year next Saturday was canceled as expected. It is still unclear whether the Pope will publish a text for the Angelus prayer on Sunday, as he did the past two Sundays. Normally, the head of the Catholic Church leads the prayer every Sunday at noon from the window of the Apostolic Palace overlooking St. Peter's Square.
(APA/Red)
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