VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis, who has been grappling with a bout of double pneumonia for nearly three weeks, enjoyed a peaceful night at the hospital, as per a statement from the Vatican on Wednesday. The 88-year-old pontiff was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on February 14 due to a severe respiratory infection that has necessitated continuously evolving medical intervention.
The Vatican announced on Tuesday that Pope Francis would be reconnected to non-invasive mechanical ventilation during the night to aid his breathing, highlighting the ongoing challenge in overcoming the perilous illness.
“The pope rested well throughout the night,” the Vatican declared on Wednesday, mentioning only that he woke up shortly after 8:00 a.m. (0700 GMT). In times of good health, the pontiff typically commences his day well before dawn.
On Monday, Francis experienced what the Vatican characterized as two incidents of “acute respiratory insufficiency.” The health bulletin issued on Tuesday conveyed a more optimistic outlook, stating that the pope remained stable throughout the day and did not encounter any new respiratory crises.
Nevertheless, his medical team reiterated that his condition was “guarded,” indicating that he was still in a precarious state.
Since his admission to the hospital, the pope has not been seen in public, marking his longest absence from public view since the start of his papacy 12 years ago. His doctors have refrained from specifying the expected duration of his treatment.
(Reporting by Crispian Balmer, editing by Cristina Carlevaro and Bernadette Baum)
