“Laboratory tests, chest X-rays and the clinical status of the Holy Father continue to present a complex picture,” the Holy See said on February 18, 2025. The note went on to explain that "a follow-up chest CT scan ... revealed the onset of bilateral pneumonia, requiring additional pharmacological therapy.”
“Nevertheless," the press release adds, "Pope Francis remains in good spirits.”
Now on the evening of his fifth day in hospital, Pope Francis, 88, remains in a “complex” clinical condition, the Vatican explained in this statement sent to journalists in the evening.
The Holy See states that the polymicrobial infection, which developed against a background of “bronchiectasis and asthmatic bronchitis” and required the use of a cortisone-based antibiotic, makes therapeutic treatment “more complex.”
In 1957, at the age of 21, Jorge Mario Bergoglio suffered from a serious respiratory illness while he was in his second year of seminary. He had three cysts in his right lung and pleural effusion, and had undergone surgery to remove the upper right lobe of his lung.
Before being admitted to the hospital on February 14, he had had about 10 days of bronchitis.
Since 2020, Pope Francis has suffered from breathing difficulties every winter. He was hospitalized in March 2023 for infectious bronchitis but only stayed at the Gemelli Polyclinic for three days that time.
Rest, prayer, reading
The Holy Father "alternated rest with prayer and reading," the Vatican added. "He is grateful for the closeness he feels at the moment and asks, with a grateful heart, that we continue to pray for him."
As on the previous day, the communiqué reports that the Pope received the Eucharist this morning. For some observers, this implies that he did not celebrate Mass.
All of the Pope's appointments have been canceled - in particular, he was due to take part in the Jubilee of Deacons this weekend.
For the time being, the Vatican has not given any indication as to a date of release. Furthermore, talk of a medical press conference tomorrow at Gemelli Hospital has not been confirmed. This afternoon, the I.MEDIA agency noted that a stage had been set up in a hall of the polyclinic, probably in preparation for said conference.
Tomorrow, an update on the Pope's health should take place in the morning, followed by another one at the end of the day.
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