Pope Francis’s condition remains critical but has shown a “slight improvement,” the Vatican announced in its latest health update on the 88-year-old pontiff, as per Al Jazeera.
In a statement released on Monday, the Vatican reported that “the clinical conditions of the Holy Father, in their critical nature, show a slight improvement.” The statement noted that “Today there were no episodes of asthmatic respiratory attacks; some laboratory tests have improved.” It also indicated that Francis was able to work in the afternoon after receiving the Eucharist in the morning.
The Pope is still receiving oxygen support, though the statement mentioned “slightly reduced flow and oxygen percentage.”
Francis was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on February 14 with breathing difficulties, and his condition subsequently worsened. He is currently battling pneumonia in both lungs and experiencing kidney issues, marking his longest hospital stay since assuming the papacy in 2013.
Double pneumonia is a serious infection that can inflame and scar both lungs, leading to difficulty breathing. The Vatican has described the Pope’s infection as “complex” and attributed it to multiple microorganisms.
Pope Francis has experienced intermittent health issues over the past two years. He is particularly vulnerable to lung infections due to pleurisy he developed as a young adult, which led to the removal of part of one lung.
The Pope’s ongoing hospitalization has sparked a global wave of concern and support, with a special prayer service organized in St Peter’s Square in Rome on Monday evening.
