Pope Francis

Pope marks 12th anniversary of papacy in hospital, condition improving

Pope Francis marked the 12th anniversary of his papacy Thursday with increasingly positive medical updates four weeks into his hospitalisation for double pneumonia. The pope spent another tranquil night, the Vatican said in its brief morning statement. A chest X-ray confirmed improvements, the Vatican said on Wednesday, just two days after days after doctors declared he's no longer in imminent danger of death. The latest medical bulletin said that the 88-year-old pope's condition remained stable, but indicated a complex picture considering his overall fragility. The Holy See hasn't said how the anniversary of his election as the 266th pope might be commemorated. It is a public holiday at the Vatican and Masses are planned in his honor at churches in Rome. No medical bulletins will be issued. Francis on Wednesday remotely followed a Lenten spiritual retreat that has been a mainstay of his papacy. He continues to receive high flows of oxygen through nasal tubes during the day and a .

Pope Francis hits milestones as he recovers from pneumonia in Rome hospital

The recovery of Pope Francis from double pneumonia continued Wednesday as he inched toward notching some important milestones in his papacy: The 12th anniversary Thursday of his election as pope and a near-record in hospital stays for a pontiff. The Vatican said Wednesday that Francis had a quiet night at Rome's Gemelli hospital. If the last few days are any guide, the 88-year-old Argentine will likely follow the Vatican's spiritual retreat remotely while his physical and respiratory therapy continues. The pope's weekly Wednesday general audience was cancelled anyway, since the entire Vatican hierarchy is on retreat this week as part of the Lenten spiritual exercises that have been a mainstay of the Jesuit pope's pontificate. Doctors have said Francis is making slow, gradual improvements and this week declared that he's no longer in imminent danger of death as a result of the complex respiratory infection he had when he was admitted on February 14. But they remain cautious, given

Pope Francis no longer in danger due to pneumonia, remains hospitalised

Doctors said Monday that Pope Francis is no longer in imminent danger of death as a result of pneumonia but have decided to keep him hospitalised for several more days to receive treatment. In a late update, the doctors said the 88-year-old pope remains stable and has consolidated improvements in recent days, as determined by blood tests and positive responses to drug treatments. However, in view of the complexity of the clinical picture and the important infectious picture presented on admission, it will be necessary to continue medical drug therapy in a hospital setting for additional days, according to the Vatican statement. Francis followed the Vatican's week-long spiritual retreat via video-conference on Monday as he continued his recovery from double pneumonia and looked ahead to the 12th anniversary of his election amid questions about what the future of his papacy might look like. As he did on Sunday, Francis participated in the retreat remotely from the Rome hospital where

Pope Francis 'responding well to pneumonia therapy; showing improvement'

Pope Francis is responding well to therapy for double pneumonia and has shown a gradual, slight improvement in recent days, the Vatican said Saturday. But as a precaution his doctors have decided to keep his prognosis as guarded. Francis has remained stable, with no fever and good oxygen levels in his blood, doctors reported in a Vatican statement. The statement said the doctors decided to keep his prognosis guarded, meaning he isn't out of danger. Francis worked and rested during the day Saturday, the Vatican said.

Pope in hospital for 3 wks with double pneumonia. How serious is that?

Friday marks three weeks since Pope Francis was hospitalised for bronchitis, which then led to double pneumonia. He was also treated for a complex lung infection and has suffered several respiratory crises requiring further treatment, including machines to help him breathe. Doctors not involved in the pope's care say the road ahead could be tricky, even if the 88-year-old pope fully recovers. Here's a look at the pope's hospitalisation and what doctors will be watching out for in the days and weeks ahead. Why was Pope Francis hospitalized in the first place? The pope was hospitalised February 14 after suffering from weeks of bronchitis that made it increasingly hard for him to speak. Several days later, Vatican authorities said he had a complex infection in his respiratory system requiring more targeted treatment. The pope then developed pneumonia in both lungs and began receiving steroid and antibiotics, among other treatments. How bad is this? He's an 88-year-old who's been in

Pope Francis records audio, thanks people from hospital for their prayers

Pope Francis recorded an audio greeting Thursday to thank people for their prayers as he continued his recovery from double pneumonia in stable condition with no new respiratory crises or fever, the Vatican said. The audio was to be broadcast at the start of the evening Rosary prayer in St. Peter's Square, Vatican officials said. Given the continued stability of Francis' condition, doctors said they didn't expect to provide a new medical update until Saturday. His prognosis remains guarded, meaning he is not out of danger. The Vatican said Francis continued respiratory and other physical therapy Thursday, worked, rested and prayed from the 10th floor papal suite at Rome's Gemelli hospital. The pope has been sleeping with a non-invasive mechanical mask to guarantee that his lungs expand properly overnight and help his recovery. He has been transitioning to receiving high-flow oxygen with a nasal tube during the day. His routine now includes physical therapy, along with treatment for

Pope Francis stable after respiratory crisis, taken off ventilation mask

Pope Francis had stabilised enough on Tuesday after two respiratory crises to be taken off noninvasive mechanical ventilation and resume receiving just high flows of supplemental oxygen via a nasal tube to help him breathe, the Vatican said. Francis, 88, woke up and was resuming respiratory physiotherapy after sleeping through the night, the Vatican said. The Vatican said as of Tuesday morning, Francis no longer needed to wear the mechanical ventilation mask that covers his nose and mouth to pump oxygen into his lungs. He had to resume using the mask on Monday after suffering two respiratory crises that required doctors to extract copious amounts of mucus from his lungs. Francis rested early Tuesday after he suffered further setbacks in his fight against double pneumonia: two new acute respiratory crises that required him to resume using noninvasive mechanical ventilation to breathe. In its early Tuesday update, the Vatican said: The pope slept through the night, now rest ...

Pope Francis faces new breathing issues, back on noninvasive ventilation

Francis had inhaled "copious" amounts of mucus in another setback in what has become a more than two-week battle to overcome a complex respiratory infection and pneumonia

Pope Francis off ventilation, signals he's overcoming respiratory risks

Pope Francis remained in stable condition and didn't need any mechanical ventilation Sunday, the Vatican said. It was a sign that he had overcome the possible complications from a respiratory crisis on Friday and that his breathing function overall was improving as he recovers from double pneumonia. The 88-year-old pope did continue to receive high flow supplemental oxygen after Friday's coughing episode, which sparked fears of a new lung infection. Doctors in their late Sunday update said Francis remained stable but again referred to the complexity of his overall condition and kept his prognosis at guarded, meaning he wasn't out of danger. Francis, who has been in the hospital since Feb 14, rested, prayed in his private chapel and participated in Mass for the rest of the day after having a visit in the morning from the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and his chief of staff, Archbishop Edgar Pena Parra. The content of their talks wasn't known, but even when at th

Pope stable, resting in hospital; skips Sunday noon blessing again

Pope Francis remained in stable condition Saturday a day after a respiratory crisis, and spent long periods of the day off the noninvasive ventilation he initially needed in a sign that his lung function was improving as he battles double pneumonia. Francis had no further episodes of bronchial spasms, the Vatican said in its late update. He had no fever and no signs of new infection, was feeding himself and continued his respiratory physiotherapy, the Vatican said. The 88-year-old pope had a good response in his blood gas levels even during the long periods he was off the ventilator mask and only using high-flow supplemental oxygen. But his prognosis remained guarded, meaning he wasn't out of danger. The Holy Father is always vigilant and aware of what's going on around him, the statement said, adding that he received the Eucharist and spent time in prayer. The comparatively positive update came after Francis suffered a setback Friday in his two-week battle against pneumonia. Fran

Pope had bronchial spasm, his prognosis remains guarded, says Vatican

Pope Francis suffered an isolated coughing fit on Friday that resulted in him inhaling vomit, requiring non-invasive mechanical ventilation, the Vatican said in relaying a setback in his two-week long battle against double pneumonia. The 88-year-old pope remained conscious and alert at all times and cooperated with the maneuvers to help him recover. He responded well, with a good level of oxygen exchange and was continuing to wear a mask to receive supplemental oxygen, the Vatican said. The development marked a setback in what had been two successive days of increasingly upbeat reports from doctors treating Francis at Rome's Gemelli hospital since February 14. The episode, which occurred in the early afternoon, resulted in a sudden worsening of the respiratory picture. Doctors decided to keep Francis' prognosis as guarded and indicated they needed 24-48 hours to evaluate how and if the episode has impacted his overall clinical condition. The episode, which doctors described as an .

Pope Francis shows slight improvement in battle against pneumonia: Vatican

The Vatican said Wednesday that Pope Francis has shown further slight improvement as he battles double pneumonia, but doctors still say his prognosis is still guarded. A CT chest scan taken Tuesday evening showed the normal evolution of an infection as it is being treated. Blood tests have confirmed an improvement, according to the Vatican's late update. The slight kidney insufficiency detected a few days ago has receded, and Francis is continuing to receive respiratory physiotherapy. It was the first time the Vatican has said Francis was receiving physiotherapy to help him expel fluid from his lungs. Francis resumed work in the afternoon, after receiving the Eucharist in the morning. He was sitting upright and receiving therapy, the Vatican said, as Argentines, Romans and others have kept up the steady stream of prayers for his recovery. Meanwhile, the Holy See machinery has ground on, with the announcement of new bishops and a new church fundraising initiative. The pope continu

Pope Francis is critical but stable with no new respiratory crises: Vatican

Pope Francis was in critical but stable condition Tuesday as he worked from the hospital while battling double pneumonia, and the Vatican announced some major governing decisions that suggest he is getting essential work done and looking ahead. The Vatican's evening update said the 88-year-old pope had had no new respiratory crises and that his blood parameters were stable. He underwent a follow-up CAT scan Tuesday evening to check the lung infection, but no results were provided. Doctors said his prognosis remained guarded. In the morning, after receiving the Eucharist, he resumed work activities, the Vatican statement said. Decisions on saints and a formal meeting of cardinals The Vatican's Tuesday noon bulletin contained a series of significant decisions Francis had taken, most importantly that he had met on Monday with Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Edgar Pea Parra, the Vatican substitute or chief of staff. It was the first known time the pope had met with Parolin, who

Pope Francis shows improvement, resumes some work, still critical: Vatican

Pope Francis remained in critical condition Monday but showed slight improvement in laboratory tests and resumed some work activities, including calling a parish in Gaza City that he has kept in touch with since the war there began, the Vatican said. The Vatican's evening bulletin was more upbeat than in recent days, as the 88-year-old Francis battles pneumonia in both lungs. It said he hadn't had any more respiratory crises since Saturday and that the supplemental oxygen that he was using continued but with a slightly reduced oxygen flow and concentrations. The slight kidney insufficiency detected on Sunday was not causing alarm at the moment, doctors said, while saying his prognosis remained guarded. He received the Eucharist in the morning and resumed working in the afternoon. In the evening he called the parish priest of the Gaza parish to express his fatherly closeness, the statement said. For over a year, Francis has checked in daily via videocall with the Argentine priest,

Pope Francis in critical condition: Key updates and what to know

Pope Francis wakes up on 10th day of hospitalisation, remains critical

This marks the tenth day of his hospitalisation for a severe lung infection that has led to early-stage kidney insufficiency

Pope Francis resting after early stages of kidney insufficiency detected

Pope Francis was conscious but still receiving high flows of supplemental oxygen Sunday as he remained in critical condition with pneumonia and a complex lung infection, the Vatican said. Prayers for him poured in from around the world, from his native Argentina to the seat of Sunni Islam in Cairo to schoolchildren in Rome. In New York, Cardinal Timothy Dolan said what church leaders in Rome weren't saying publicly: that the Catholic faithful were united at the bedside of a dying father. As our Holy Father Pope Francis is in very, very fragile health, and probably close to death, Dolan said at St. Patrick's Cathedral, without saying if he had independent information about the pope's condition. In Rome, the Vatican limited itself to saying that the 88-year-old Francis, who has pneumonia in both lungs and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was still receiving high flows of supplemental oxygen after a respiratory crisis on Saturday. Further clinical tests were being ...

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Pope Francis rested during night following respiratory crisis: Vatican

Pope Francis was in critical condition Saturday after he suffered a long asthmatic respiratory crisis that required high flows of oxygen, the Vatican said. The 88-year-old Francis, who has been hospitalised for a week with pneumonia and a complex lung infection, also received blood transfusions after tests showed low platelet counts associated with anemia, the Vatican said in a late update. The Holy Father continues to be alert and spent the day in an armchair although in more pain than yesterday. At the moment the prognosis is reserved, the statement said. Doctors have said Francis' condition is touch-and-go and that he is by no means out of danger. They have warned that the main threat facing Francis would be the onset of sepsis, a serious infection of the blood that can occur as a complication of pneumonia. As of Friday, there was no evidence of any sepsis, and Francis was responding to the various drugs he is taking, the pope's medical team said in their first in-depth update

Pope Francis critical: Here is how the Vatican selects a new pontiff

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