VATICAN CITY. Pope Francis, who has been battling double pneumonia for nearly three weeks, remains in stable condition and has resumed some work, the Vatican announced on Wednesday.
The 88-year-old pontiff was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on February 14 with a severe respiratory infection, requiring ongoing medical treatment. Despite his fragile condition, he spent much of the day in an armchair and carried out limited duties—the first time the Vatican has confirmed his ability to work since February 27.
However, his doctors remain cautious about his recovery. “The prognosis remains guarded,” they stated, emphasizing that he is not yet out of danger.
Although the pope was temporarily taken off non-invasive mechanical ventilation during the day, the Vatican confirmed that he would be reconnected to the device overnight. The machine, which pushes air into the lungs without requiring sedation, underscores his continued struggle to recover fully from the illness. When not on mechanical ventilation, he receives a high flow of oxygen through a nasal hose.
Marking a notable development in his recovery, Pope Francis made a phone call to the Catholic parish in Gaza on Wednesday—the first time he has done so since February 24. Throughout the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, he has frequently reached out to the Christian community in the region.
While he has not experienced further respiratory crises since Monday, when he suffered two episodes of “acute respiratory insufficiency,” the pope has remained out of public view. This hospitalization marks his longest absence from public appearances since the start of his papacy 12 years ago. His doctors have not provided a timeline for his discharge.
Due to his illness, Pope Francis missed presiding over the Ash Wednesday service, an important event that marks the beginning of Lent. Instead, Cardinal Angelo De Donatis led the service in a Rome church, expressing solidarity with the ailing pontiff.
“We feel deeply united with him at this time. We thank him for offering his prayers and his sufferings for the good of the entire Church and the whole world,” De Donatis told the congregation.
During the service, Christians traditionally receive a cross of ashes on their foreheads, symbolizing mortality. In his sermon, De Donatis reflected on the fleeting nature of life:
“In many ways, we try to banish death from our societies… Death, however, imposes itself as a reality with which we have to reckon, a sign of the precariousness and brevity of our lives.”
Although unable to attend in person, Pope Francis participated in a private Ash Wednesday service from his hospital suite.
Over the past two years, Pope Francis has faced multiple health challenges. Having suffered from pleurisy in his youth, he underwent surgery to remove part of one lung, leaving him prone to respiratory infections. His current hospitalization has once again raised concerns about his long-term well-being, but the Vatican remains hopeful about his gradual recovery.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
- Gary P Hernalhttps://tutubi.ph/author/gary-hernal/
- Gary P Hernalhttps://tutubi.ph/author/gary-hernal/
- Gary P Hernalhttps://tutubi.ph/author/gary-hernal/
- Gary P Hernalhttps://tutubi.ph/author/gary-hernal/
