Pope Francis spends “peaceful night” in the hospital and will skip Sunday noon blessing
The Vatican confirmed earlier Sunday that Pope Francis was “resting on a quiet night” as he continued to recover from double pneumonia.
Francis’ medical condition “is stable and responding well to gas exchange,” the Vatican said on Saturday.
He showed no signs of fever or elevated white blood cells, which suggests his body is still fighting the infection.
Doctors reported on Saturday that Francis was in a stable condition, not mentioning that he was important and again signaled to continue improving. Their optimistic assessment was the day after the respiratory crisis that led to him undergoing non-invasive mechanical ventilation.
JD Vance shares special information about Pope Francis during breathing crisis
Pope Francis waved from the central corridor of St. Peter’s Basilica in Easter “urbi et orbi’severse” and blessed the city and the world as part of the Holy Week celebrations held in the Vatican on March 31, 2024. (Tiziana Fabi/pool/afp/Getty)
However, the doctor was cautious and maintained the prognosis, which meant he was not at risk. The Vatican said he was eating and drinking, continuing his respiratory physiotherapy and spent 20 minutes in a private chapel under the hall on Saturday.
The nun prayed for Pope Francis in front of Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic, and the pope has been hospitalized in Rome since Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
The Vatican said the 88-year-old pope had a “good response” to his gas exchange levels even for “long-term” periods, but he got out of the ventilator mask and used only high flows to replenish oxygen.
For the third straight weekend, Francis canceled a date for Sunday afternoon praying Angelus. The Vatican plans to distribute prepared texts as Francis continues to recover.
The Vatican said Pope Francis had mild renal insufficiency and he fought against pneumonia.
Part of the pope was removed when he was young, suffering from lung disease and was admitted to gemelli on February 14 after two times bronchitis in the lungs deteriorated and turned into complex pneumonia.
A woman takes a photo while it rains in St. Peters Square in the Vatican on Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Francis’ hospitalization has arrived as the Vatican is marking its holy year, attracting pilgrims from all over the place. They were passing through the holy gate of St. Peter’s Basilica and also making a pilgrimage to the hilltop Umbrien town of Assisi, praying at the home of the same name character Francis in St. Francis.
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Francis was supposed to host the auditorium of Jagley Hospital and other health care workers on Saturday, which was held in the Vatican Auditorium. They were as planned and completed the pilgrimage while Francis continued to recover in the hospital.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
