ROME (AP) — Pope Francis woke up on Tuesday to good news from his doctors, who have improved his prognosis and say he is no longer in imminent danger of death as a result of the bilateral pneumonia that has kept him hospitalized for almost a month, the longest and most serious threat to his 12-year papacy.
But the 88-year-old Argentine pontiff has not yet overcome the crisis. Doctors continue to be cautious and have decided that he will remain hospitalized for several more days to receive treatment, not to mention the rehabilitation period he will likely need.
The doctors stated that he remains stable and has shown improvements in the past few days, according to the blood tests and his positive response to the treatment. Francis, who suffers from a chronic lung disease, continues to use supplemental oxygen during the day and a ventilation mask at night to help him breathe.
On Tuesday morning, the Vatican reported that the pope woke up around eight in the morning after a peaceful night. The Argentine Jesuit has been sleeping regularly at Gemelli Hospital, as his usual waking time in the Vatican is around 4:30 in the morning.
On Monday night, doctors removed their “reserved” prognosis for the pope, which means they determined that he was no longer in imminent danger as a result of the original respiratory infection he arrived at the center with on February 14. However, they remained cautious due to the fragility of Francis and the risks of other complications.
“Given the complexity of the clinical picture and the significant infectious situation presented upon admission, it will be necessary to continue medical therapy with drugs in a hospital setting for additional days,” explained the statement from the Vatican.
As a sign of his improved health, the Pope participated in the Vatican’s one-week spiritual retreat via video conference on Monday, attending both the morning and afternoon sessions, something he will likely continue to do throughout the week.
The retreat, an annual meeting that marks the beginning of the solemn Lenten season of the Catholic Church, leading up to Easter, will continue until Friday. The Vatican pointed out that the Pope would participate “in spiritual communion” with the rest of the hierarchy, from a distance.
Francis was able to see and listen to Roberto Pasolini, preacher of the Papal Household, but the priests, bishops, cardinals, and nuns attending the retreat in the Vatican auditorium were not able to see or hear him.
Pasolini is offering a series of reflections this week on “The Hope of Eternal Life,” a theme chosen long before Francisco was admitted to Gemelli Hospital in Rome on February 14 with a complex lung infection.
Francis, who had part of his lung removed when he was young, was hospitalized due to a bronchitis that had become complicated. The infection progressed to a complex respiratory tract infection and bilateral pneumonia, which has kept the Pope away from public life and has raised questions about the future.
But the pontiff continued to be aware of everything. The Vatican said that he had been informed about the floods in his native Argentina, sent a telegram of condolences, and expressed his solidarity with the affected population.