By Joshua McElwee
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis, in his seventh day of hospitalization to combat pneumonia, remains alert and was able to have breakfast while seated in an armchair on Thursday morning, according to the Vatican. The 88-year-old pontiff is currently receiving treatment at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he was admitted on February 14 after experiencing breathing difficulties for several days.
Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni provided a brief update, stating that the pope had a good night’s sleep and was able to have breakfast. The latest medical statement from the Vatican, released on Wednesday evening, indicated that the pope’s condition was stable, with slight improvements shown in recent blood tests.
Francis is grappling with double pneumonia, a severe infection that can cause inflammation and scarring in both lungs, leading to breathing challenges. Previous reports from the Vatican had revealed that the pope was dealing with a polymicrobial infection involving multiple microorganisms, emphasizing the need for him to remain in the hospital to address the intricate medical situation.
A Vatican official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to lack of authorization to discuss the pope’s health publicly, confirmed on Thursday that Francis was not on a ventilator and was able to breathe independently. The official noted that the pope was mobile within his hospital room, engaging in phone calls and continuing with some administrative tasks.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni paid a visit to Francis on Wednesday, becoming the first high-profile visitor known to have visited the pope in the hospital. Meloni reported that the pontiff was “alert and responsive” during their meeting. According to the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, the pope even made a joke about people betting on his demise, with Meloni remarking that he had not lost his well-known sense of humor.
This recent health setback is part of a series of medical challenges that Pope Francis has faced over the years. (Reporting by Joshua McElwee; Editing by Gianluca Semeraro, Bernadette Baum, and Frances Kerry)
