Italy Vatican: Pope is feeling a little better
After more than three weeks in hospital, Pope Francis is feeling a little better again, according to official reports. "The Holy Father's clinical condition has remained stable in recent days and is thus showing a good response to treatment," the Vatican announced in a medical bulletin this evening. Consequently, there has been a "gradual, slight improvement".
08.03.2025, 19:31
SDA
The 88-year-old suffers from severe pneumonia, which has affected both lungs. The head of the Catholic Church has been receiving treatment at the Gemelli Clinic in Rome since mid-February. Francis has had several bouts of acute shortness of breath. As a result, he repeatedly had to be mechanically ventilated via a mask covering his nose and mouth. He also received additional oxygen through a tube in his nose.
Sunday prayers in St. Peter's Square canceled again
The doctors were still reluctant to give a prognosis on the further course of the disease. In the past, bulletins have also mentioned an improvement, but this was followed by setbacks. Francis has not appeared in public since being admitted to hospital. However, he thanked everyone for their prayers in an audio message. His voice seemed very weak.
Sunday prayers in front of tens of thousands of faithful in St. Peter's Square will be canceled this Sunday for the fourth time in a row. Francis has been at the head of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide since March 2013. On Thursday, it will be exactly twelve years since he was elected as the successor to German Pope Benedict XVI. At the age of 88, the Argentinian-born Pope is now the second oldest pontiff in the history of the Catholic Church.
