Pope Francis had a “good night” the Vatican said Friday as his hospital stay reached one week. File Photo by Stefano Spaziani/UPI | License Photo
Pope Francis continued his hospitalization in Rome as he marked one week at the medical facility on Friday, Vatican officials said.
Vatican Press Office Director Matteo Bruni said the pontiff had a “good night” at Gemelli Hospital where he continued his daily routine of breakfast, reading, prayer, and completing his necessary therapy. Advertisement
“The Holy Father’s clinical condition is showing slight improvement,” the Vatican said late Thursday. “He has no fever, and his hemodynamic parameters remain stable. [Thursday morning] he received the Eucharist and then dedicated himself to work activities.”
His continued treatment, however, has forced the people to cancel a series of weekend Jubilee celebrations. The Vatican said he will likely not recite the Sunday Angelus this weekend, but no final decision has been made.
Doctors admitted Pope Francis to Gemelli Hospital on Feb.14 to undergo testing and treatment initially for bronchitis. While he was successively treated for that, on Tuesday he was diagnosed with double pneumonia.
Vatican officials said medical staff is carefully evaluating Pope Francis closely considering his age, 88, workload and potential side effects of his treatment.
The pope has been susceptible to lung infections since he was 21 when he developed pleurisy and had part of his lung removed. Since then, he has been hospitalized several times and had abdominal surgery in 2023. Advertisement
