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"The Holy Father's clinical condition is confirmed to be improving. The Holy Father has suspended non-invasive mechanical ventilation and also has less need of high-flow oxygen therapy.
"Motor and respiratory physiotherapy is continuing to make progress.
"This morning, on the Solemnity of St. Joseph, the Holy Father concelebrated Mass."
The Vatican had this positive report on the 12th anniversary of the Pope's installation as Successor of Peter, which took place on the feast of St. Joseph in 2013.
However, though the Pope is being weaned of oxygen and continues improving, no date has been set for his return to the Vatican.
The 88-year-old pope has been hospitalized since February 14 - now 35 days - to treat bilateral pneumonia and polymicrobial respiratory tract infection. The doctors consider the infections to be under control and the results of the clinical analyses to be within normal limits, says the Holy See Press Office.
After respiratory crises, the pontiff had resorted to non-invasive mechanical ventilation during the night, but the device has not been used since the evening of March 18.
“This is a positive development,” said the Holy See Press Office, adding, however, that this does not exclude the possibility that ventilation may be reintroduced.
No decisions on Easter
On Wednesday, the Pope celebrated Mass in the chapel of his room on the occasion of the Solemnity of St. Joseph. The pontiff was also able to work, but did not receive any official visitors.
The Holy See Press Office has announced that, due to the current positive dynamic, it will communicate less in the coming days about the Pope's health. The next health bulletin - barring any alerts - will be published on Monday, March 24.
For the time being, no release date has been put forward, with a Vatican source assuring that the release is “not imminent.”
Concerning Holy Week, with Easter exactly a month away, the Holy See Press Office has stated that “decisions have not yet been made.”
Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles III would meet Pope Francis in Rome on April 8. The information has not been confirmed by the Vatican.
Follow updates on the Pope's health, and take a look at the trajectory here.
