Vatican Releases Major Health Update On Pope Francis

On Monday, doctors revealed Pope Francis is no longer in “imminent danger of death.”

Pope Francis was previously diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs and last week was placed on a ventilator.

The Pope’s health has since improved, and he is no longer in danger of imminent death but will still remain in the hospital as a precaution.

The Vatican stated, “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.”

Per WBAL-TV:

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 hospitalized 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 weeklong spiritual retreat via videoconference 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 he is being treated. He could see and hear the Rev. Roberto Pasolini, preacher of the papal household, but the priests, bishops and cardinals gathered for the retreat in the Vatican auditorium could not see or hear him.

Pasolini is delivering a series of meditations this week on “The hope of eternal life,” a theme that was chosen well before Francis was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Feb. 14 with a complex lung infection.

Per Axios:

Pope Francis’ health condition continues to improve and he’s no longer facing immediate threat of dying from pneumonia, according a Monday update from the Vatican.

The big picture: After nearly a month hospitalized, the 88-year-old Catholic church leader’s “clinical condition remains stable,” though he’ll have to remain in a hospital to continue treatment, the Vatican said.
Driving the news: Doctors lifted “their guarded prognosis” after confirming improvements and the Pope’s positive response to pharmacological therapy, per the Vatican’s statement.

“However, given the complexity of the Pope’s clinical picture and the severe infection present at the time of hospitalization, it will still be necessary to continue pharmacological treatment in a hospital setting for a period of time,” they said.