Update: Pope Francis spent a fourth "quiet" night at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome, the director of the Holy See Press Office informed late this morning on February 18, 2025. While the Vatican does not provide a forecast on the length of the 88-year-old pontiff's hospitalization as he recovers from a respiratory infection, his appointments for this weekend have been canceled.
A medical bulletin will be published at the end of the day.
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“The Holy Father continues to be free of fever and is following the prescribed therapy. His clinical condition is stable,” announced the Vatican press office on the evening of February 17, 2025. Earlier in the day, a medical bulletin indicated that Pope Francis is suffering from a "polymicrobial respiratory tract infection" and that he is presenting a "complex clinical picture.”
The 88-year-old pontiff has been hospitalized since Friday, February 14, at the Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome due to a respiratory infection. This evening's press release indicates that the head of the Catholic Church received the Eucharist today - and not “extreme unction” or the Anointing of the Sick, as some Italian media had suggested.
Pope Francis then devoted himself to “some work and reading,” taking the time to deal with a few matters. However, according to our information, the Pope remains bedridden and is being asked to stay on complete rest. His personal medical team and the Gemelli teams are assessing his reaction to the new therapy initiated after the detection of the “polymicrobial respiratory tract infection,” which was communicated at midday.
For the moment, no date has been set for his release from hospital. According to our information, Pope Francis will not be able to take part in the celebration of the Jubilee of Deacons scheduled for February 20 to 24. Thus the Mass scheduled for this Sunday morning in St. Peter's Basilica, during which deacon ordinations are planned, will be held in his absence.
The Holy See Press Office had already announced in the early afternoon that the general audience on Wednesday, February 19, had been canceled. In all likelihood, all of his other engagements for the week will also be canceled.
In addition, this evening's communiqué states that the 88-year-old pontiff is touched by the many messages of affection and closeness that he continues to receive in these hours. In particular, he extends “his thanks to those who are currently hospitalized for the affection and love they express through drawings and messages of good wishes; he prays for them and asks that they pray for him,” the Holy See Press Office said.
Unless there is a serious development in the next few hours, the Holy See's next communication on the Pope's health is expected at the end of the morning on Tuesday, February 18.
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