The Vatican says the Pope is still receiving oxygen as his dual pneumonia hospitalization approaches the two-week mark.
Pope Francis’ condition remains significant, but shows “slight improvements,” the Vatican said in its latest health update for the 88-year-old Pope.
In a statement Monday, the Vatican said “the clinical status of the Holy Fathers shows slight improvement in their critical nature.”
“There were no episodes of asthma respiratory attacks today. Some clinical tests have improved,” said Francis, who had been working in the afternoon after receiving the Eucharist in the morning.
The Pope was still receiving oxygen, but “although the proportion of flow to oxygen has decreased slightly,” the statement said.
Francis was recognized at Gemeri Hospital in Rome on February 14th, causing difficulty in breathing, and his condition worsened afterwards.
He is fighting pneumonia with both lungs. His longest hospitalization in the Pope in almost 12 years.
Double pneumonia is a serious infection that can inflam and scar both lungs, making it difficult to breathe. The Vatican describes the Pope’s infection as “complex” and says it is caused by two or more microorganisms.
The head of the Catholic Church, who has been the Pope since 2013, has suffered from illness health for the past two years.
He developed into the pleura as a young adult and removed a part of one lung, making him particularly susceptible to pulmonary infections.
Francis’ continued hospitalization has organized a special prayer in St. Peter’s Square, Rome, Monday evening, prompting a global spill of concern and support.
There are also tributes remaining outside the hospital where he is being treated.
Maria Vozulf, a Ukrainian who lived in Rome for 18 years, said that many of her home countries prayed for Francis.
The Pope often condemned war in Ukraine, which reached the three-year mark on Monday and prayed for peace.
“We Ukrainians really pray for him,” Vozulf said. “He needs to get well and go home.”
The Vatican said early on Monday that the Pope had a peaceful night, with Vatican sources saying “I’m not feeling any pain,” and even “I feel good.”
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