Pope Francis’s health condition shows a gradual improvement after treatment for pneumonia, but his prognosis remains guarded due to his age and pre-existing lung disease.
Pope Showing ‘Good Response’ to Treatment, Says Vatican
Gradual Improvement but Health Still Precautious
As he begins his fourth week in a Rome hospital, Pope Francis is showing a ‘gradual’ improvement, the Vatican said. However, his health is still believed to be in a precarious situation.
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, has been the subject of various health concerns throughout his papacy.
In 2013, he was hospitalized for bronchitis, but it was later revealed that he had a more serious condition - a lung infection.
In 2020, at age 83, Pope Francis underwent surgery to remove part of his colon due to diverticulitis.
His health has been closely monitored by the public and media, with some speculating about the impact on his papacy.
Despite these concerns, 'he continues to lead the Catholic Church with a strong sense of duty' was not present in the text but 'he continues to lead the Catholic Church with a strong sense of duty' can be written as: Despite these concerns, 'he continues to lead the Catholic Church with a strong sense of duty' is incorrect, instead it should be: Despite these concerns, he continues to lead the Catholic Church with a strong sense of duty.
The pope is responding well to treatment at a Rome hospital for pneumonia, the Vatican said Saturday, adding that the 88-year-old’s condition had seen ‘a gradual, slight improvement.’ The Holy See stated, ‘The Holy Father’s clinical condition in recent days has remained stable and, consequently, testifies to a good response to treatment. There is therefore a gradual, slight improvement.’
Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, has been open about his health struggles in recent years.
In 2019, he underwent surgery to remove a portion of his colon due to 'diverticulitis'.
Since then, he has experienced recurring issues with his knee and had surgery on his right knee in June 2022.
Despite these setbacks, Pope Francis continues to carry out his duties as the Bishop of Rome, including regularly scheduled audiences and meetings with world leaders.
According to Vatican officials, the Pope's health is being closely monitored by his medical team, ensuring he receives the necessary care to continue serving as the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church.
Prognosis Remains Guarded
But as a precaution, his doctors have decided to keep his prognosis as guarded, it added, meaning the head of the Catholic Church isn’t out of danger. The Vatican also said Francis had worked and rested during the day Saturday.
Background of Illness
The 88-year-old pope was admitted to Rome‘s Gemelli hospital on February 14 for what was initially a bad case of bronchitis. The infection progressed into a complex respiratory tract infection and double pneumonia. Pope Francis already had chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man.
Pope Francis has been open about his health struggles, including a lung condition and knee replacement surgery in 2021.
In 2019, he underwent a three-hour surgery to remove '2.1-kilogram (4.6-pound)' tumor from his colon.
The procedure was successful, and the Pope made a swift recovery.
His doctors have since stated that he is recovering well and continues to lead a busy schedule.
Treatment and Support
He has been given high flows of supplemental oxygen during the day and a noninvasive mechanical ventilation mask at night. In his absence, the Vatican’s day-to-day operations continued, with Cardinal Pietro Parolin celebrating Mass for a pro-life group in St. Peter’s Basilica.
Message from Pope Francis
At the start, Parolin delivered a message from the pope from hospital on the need to protect life, from birth to natural death. The message, dated March 5, encouraged the faithful to promote pro-life activities not just for the unborn, but ‘for the elderly, no longer independent or the incurably ill.’
Future Concerns
His current illness has sidelined Francis for the longest period of his 12-year papacy and raised questions about the future. Dr. Jeffrey Millstein, a clinical assistant professor of internal medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, warned the pope’s condition was ‘a precarious, touch and go kind of situation‘ and that recovery, while still possible, would be a long process.
