Pope Francis in stable condition after respiratory crisis, Vatican says
Pope Francis, who has been hospitalized for two weeks with double pneumonia, is in a “stable” condition, with no recurrence of the breathing crisis he suffered the previous day, the Vatican announced on Saturday.
The 88-year-old pontiff remains on oxygen support but is free of fever, alert, eating, and praying, according to the Holy See’s evening update. His blood circulation parameters are stable, and he does not have leukocytosis, a high white blood cell count that typically signals infection. However, his prognosis remains “reserved,” officials said.
Francis was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on February 14 with bronchitis, which later developed into pneumonia affecting both lungs. Last weekend, Vatican officials described his condition as “critical” after he suffered a major respiratory attack and required blood transfusions, raising global concerns about his health.
Although his condition showed gradual improvement throughout the week, Friday brought renewed alarm when the pope experienced a severe bronchospasm, leading to vomiting, inhalation complications, and a sudden deterioration in his breathing. Doctors said they would monitor him closely for 24 to 48 hours to assess the impact of the episode.
Andrea Ungar, a geriatrics professor at the University of Florence, explained that the pope likely aspirated vomit into his lungs, worsening his pneumonia. He suggested that such a complication often requires stronger antibiotics, ventilation support, and respiratory therapy. Ungar also predicted that Francis would remain hospitalized for an extended period, estimating at least 10 more days in the best-case scenario.
The Vatican continues to provide daily updates on the pope’s condition as the Catholic Church’s 1.4 billion followers await further developments.
