VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis, battling double pneumonia in a hospital, is in a stable condition and has shown “slight improvement” in results from recent blood tests, the Vatican said on Wednesday, February 19.
The 88-year-old pontiff is undergoing treatment at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he was admitted on February 14 after struggling with breathing difficulties for several days.
“The clinical conditions of the Holy Father are stable,” said a brief Vatican statement. “Blood tests… show a slight improvement, particularly in the inflammatory markers.”
Double pneumonia is a serious infection that can inflame and scar both lungs and makes breathing more difficult.
The Vatican had said previously that the Pope had a polymicrobial infection, which occurs when two or more microorganisms are involved, adding that he would stay in hospital as long as necessary to tackle a “complex clinical situation.”
Francis received a visit earlier in the day from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who said he was “alert and responsive,” and had made jokes with her.
“He hasn’t lost his proverbial sense of humour,” said Meloni, the pope’s first known visitor in hospital.
A Vatican official, who did not wish to be named because he was not authorized to speak about the Pope’s condition, said earlier on Wednesday that Francis was not on a ventilator and was breathing on his own.
The official said the Pope had been able to get out of bed and sit in an armchair in his hospital room, and was continuing to do some work. – Rappler.com