ROME — On Saturday, Pope Francis marked his fifth week undergoing treatment for double pneumonia but maintained a forward-looking perspective, continuing to focus on significant priorities of his papacy. As he recovers, signs remain encouraging as he works from the Gemelli hospital.
During his hospital stay, Pope Francis has given the green light to a three-year process aimed at implementing and evaluating his reform plans, which strive to transform the church into a more inclusive and responsive institution. Aligning with this vision, the Vatican’s office for the synod, or assembly of bishops, disclosed a schedule extending to 2028 to roll out these reforms, with Pope Francis having approved the timeline just the previous week.
The Vatican had announced on Friday that they would reduce the frequency of medical updates about the pope, which they framed as a positive development. There are no longer regular morning briefings regarding his night’s rest or the commencement of his day.
This week, doctors assured that the 88-year-old pope was no longer in a critical, life-threatening condition but noted that managing his health remains a complex task given his age, restricted mobility, and historical removal of part of a lung.
Pope Francis has been hospitalized since February 14th, following difficulties with bronchitis that hampered his ability to speak. At the hospital, he was diagnosed with double pneumonia and a complex polymicrobial infection, consisting of bacterial, viral, and fungal elements.
The initial three weeks of his hospital admission were marked by numerous setbacks, including respiratory distress, mild kidney complications, and severe coughing fits. However, recent updates on his condition have highlighted his ongoing physical and respiratory therapies, involving alternating from high-flow oxygen via nostril tubes during the day to a non-invasive ventilatory mask at night to facilitate rest. An X-ray taken this week showed that his infection is clearing.
Subsequently, medical professionals chose not to proceed with a planned briefing on Friday, delaying the next anticipated medical update until later on Saturday. No clarity has been provided on the likely duration of his hospital stay.
This week, Pope Francis took part in Lenten spiritual reflections from his hospital room, which Vatican officials noted signified a lighter workload. On Thursday, marking the 12th anniversary of his papacy, he was showered with goodwill messages and received a cake.
The only public appearance from Pope Francis since being hospitalized has been through a recorded audio message in which he expressed gratitude for prayers on his behalf, albeit weakly and with effort. This message resonated with people gathered for a nightly rosary prayer at St. Peter’s Square.
For the past four Sundays, the usual papal blessing given from a window overlooking St. Peter’s Square has been disseminated through written texts.
