On the morning of his 13th day in the hospital, Pope Francis is still on oxygen, a Vatican source said on February 26, 2025. The 88-year-old pontiff has been using adjustable respiratory assistance since his prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis last Saturday. The results of yesterday's lung scan should be made public today.
"The Pope had a quiet night and is resting," the Vatican informed journalists with a statement on Wednesday morning.
On the evening of February 25, the medical bulletin stated that the Pope's health was “critical but stable.” It also reported that the head of the Catholic Church had not suffered a new respiratory attack, but specified that the prognosis remains "guarded." "In the morning, after receiving the Eucharist, he resumed work activities," the Vatican explained.
[See below for photos of Tuesday evening's Rosary in St. Peter's led by Cardinal Tagle.]
As of today, the Pontiff is eating normally and is not in intensive care, a Vatican source said this morning. Today, Wednesday, he got up to sit in his chair and is continuing his therapies.
A press conference with the Argentine pontiff's doctors is still being considered and could take place at the end of this week.
This Wednesday, the Holy See's official bulletin once again announced the appointment of bishops in several countries around the world. These appointments, always signed by the head of the Catholic Church, may have been made before his hospitalization. But Vatican sources indicated yesterday that Pope Francis is doing “light work.”
On Tuesday, the Holy See also announced that the pontiff had convened a consistory – a meeting of cardinals – for two causes of canonization. However, no date or details have been put forward for this event, the announcement of which has raised questions.
“The Pope has called us once again”
This morning, the parish priest of Gaza, Father Gabriel Romanelli, published a video on the website of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, stating - without giving a specific date - that “Pope Francis has called us once again to show us his closeness, to pray for us and to give us his blessing." During his hospitalization, the pontiff has indeed maintained the contact he has established almost daily with this parish since the Israeli intervention.
“We are delighted to hear his voice. It is always comforting. Knowing that despite his delicate state of health, he continues to think of and pray for everyone, [...] gives us great joy,” says the Argentine priest.
In the Vatican, the evening Rosary continue for the 266th pope. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside this evening , which has been taking place every day at 9 p.m. since Monday in St. Peter's Square.
Furthermore, Italian Catholic schools are offering a prayer for the Pope today, and have announced that they will send children's drawings and thoughts for him to the Vatican. The Vatican press office announced that numerous letters from children have already arrived at Gemelli from different schools in recent days.
Follow the updates on the Pope's health here.
