Italy Concern about Pope remains high - Francis' condition "stable"
Despite pneumonia, Pope Francis' clinical condition is "stable" according to the Vatican. The blood tests evaluated by the medical team also showed a "slight improvement", particularly in the inflammation levels, the spokesperson for the Holy See announced in the evening. The 88-year-old head of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide has been receiving treatment in a clinic in Rome since Friday.
19.02.2025, 21:00
SDA
According to a diagnosis on Tuesday, he is suffering from bilateral pneumonia. In its latest update on his state of health, the Vatican also stated that Francis had - as usual - read some newspapers during the day and had gone to work with his closest colleagues. The spokesman did not provide any further details.
Length of hospital stay still unclear
It is still unclear how long the pontiff will have to be treated in hospital. Pneumonia is considered dangerous in people of advanced age - also because there is a risk of other organs being affected. Pneumonia can be life-threatening, especially in old age and with various pre-existing conditions.
To make matters worse, Francis already had the upper part of his right lung removed at a young age in Argentina. He had to cancel his first appointments before Christmas. He repeatedly appeared breathless at public appearances and meetings and had staff read out his speeches. He hardly ever left his residence in the Vatican.
Anxiety about the Pope among the faithful
There is great concern among the faithful worldwide. Italy's bishops' conference called on the country's faithful to pray for Francis "in this moment of suffering". Prayers are also already being said for the pontiff in his home country of Argentina. Meanwhile, on the first floor of the Gemelli Clinic, where Francis is being treated, a mass was said for him for the first time.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited the pontiff at the clinic in the afternoon. "I am very happy to have found him awake and responsive," she said after the meeting. "We joked as usual. He hasn't lost his proverbial sense of humor," Meloni said from her official residence in Rome after the meeting at the clinic.
Hospital ward under strict surveillance
It was the first confirmed visit to the Pope since his hospitalization on Friday that did not involve one of his secretaries or a member of the medical team. According to the Vatican, the meeting lasted around 20 minutes. The area where the Pope is staying is strictly guarded and shielded. There is a wing on the tenth floor of the clinic specifically for sick popes.
Since Francis' admission, the Vatican has made every effort to avoid any worries. The diagnosis of bilateral pneumonia therefore came as a surprise to many. According to a papal spokesperson, the following night passed calmly. Francis also got up and had breakfast. Meanwhile, he was sitting in an armchair in his room.
Francis is the second oldest pope in history
At the age of 88, Francis is now the second oldest pope in history. As the successor to Pope Benedict XVI, he has been in office since March 2013. According to Vatican records, only Pope Leo XIII was even older: the Italian died in 1903 at the age of 93. Francis' German predecessor, Joseph Ratzinger, lived to be 95, but resigned before his death.
