Pope Francis interacts with young people of Scholas Occurrentes at Grha Pemuda Youth Center in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Sept. 4, 2024. File photo by Tatan Syuflana/pool/EPA-EFE
Pope Francis spent a restful night at the hospital in Rome, one day after suffering a sudden respiratory episode and was placed on a breathing machine, the Vatican said Saturday morning.
“After a quiet night, the Pope is resting,” read the Holy See Press Office statement. Advertisement
The pontiff, 88, had breakfast, enjoyed a coffee and read the newspapers, that Vatican said.
“His condition remains complex, and the prognosis is still guarded,” the Vatican said.
He has not experienced any further crises following Friday’s bronchospasm.
Francis’ respiratory condition worsened from an isolated bronchospasm and he vomited, some of which the pope aspirated, the Vatican said. He was then put on mechanical ventilation, to which he responded.
Gas exchange values returned to levels similar before the episode.
Francis is not intubated, but he is wearing a mask, a source told CNN.
On Friday, the Vatican said “about 24 to 48 hours are needed to be able to assess the Pope’s clinical condition following the isolated bronchospasm.”
Francis is being treated for bilateral pneumonia in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. He has suffered some kidney failure as doctors treat what they say is a complex clinical situation. Advertisement
He was admitted on Feb. 14 with an infection of the respiratory tract. He was later diagnosed with double pneumonia.
The Vatican announced Cardinal Angelo De Donatis will preside at the traditional celebration of Ash Wednesday liturgy on the Aventine Hill. The master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations will lead a procession of cardinals, archbishops, bishops, Benedictine monks of Sant’Anselmo, the Dominican fathers of Santa Sabina and faithful.
Easter is April 20.
Speakers and attendees at the 2025 National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., on Friday prayed for Francis.
“The Holy Father is still in precarious circumstances, but thanks be to God [and] thanks be to the prayers of Catholics throughout the world,” Monsignor Roger Landry, the national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies USA, told the Eternal Word Television Network at the breakfast.
