▲ Pope Francis is hospitalized at Gemelli Hospital in Rome, Italy.
On February 28, Pope Francis showed sudden symptoms of breathing difficulties, but the Vatican announced on March 2 (local time) that he has been in a stable condition for the second day.
The Vatican stated through a press release that “the pope’s condition was stable today and he did not have a fever.”
The pope did not require non-invasive ventilatory support and only received high-flow oxygen therapy, according to the Vatican.
However, they added, “Considering the complex clinical state, there is still caution regarding the prognosis.”
According to AP and The Telegraph, the pope, who has been hospitalized since February 14 due to respiratory illness, met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, and Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, the Substitute for the Secretariat of State, at the hospital in the morning, and then prayed and attended mass in a private chapel.
The pope did not appear before the crowds gathered outside the hospital.
Instead, he issued a written message through the Vatican expressing gratitude to the faithful who prayed for him.
The pope said, “I want to thank you for your prayers,” and added, “I feel all your love and closeness, and it feels as if I am ’embraced’ and supported by God’s people.”
He also stated, “I feel a ‘blessing’ hidden in weakness because at this moment we learn to trust the Lord more,” and “I thank God for giving me the opportunity to physically and spiritually share in the condition of many sick and suffering people.”
The pope also mentioned areas engulfed in war, such as Ukraine, and asked for continued prayers for world peace.
He remarked, “From here, wars seem even more senseless,” and urged, “Let’s pray for the suffering in Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan, and Kivu.”
Pope Francis has been hospitalized at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital since February 14 due to a respiratory illness caused by multiple infections.
Both lungs showed signs of pneumonia, and his condition deteriorated, marking his longest hospitalization since his papacy began in March 2013.
It has been 17 days since his hospitalization.
The Vatican reported that since February 26, they have refrained from the term ‘critical,’ indicating a gradual improvement in the pope’s health, but on February 28 around 2 PM, signs of deterioration appeared.
At that time, the pope experienced a temporary breathing difficulty accompanied by vomiting due to bronchospasm (narrowing of the bronchi).
His condition improved again with non-invasive ventilatory support and high-flow oxygen supply.
On the previous afternoon, the Vatican announced that the pope did not have a fever and his white blood cell count and cardiovascular metrics were within normal ranges.
Eighty-eight-year-old Pope Francis is the oldest current pope since Leo XIII, who passed away in 1903 at the age of 93.
He underwent surgery to remove part of a lung due to pleurisy in his youth and has frequently suffered from bronchitis or other respiratory issues during the winter months.
Nighttime prayer vigils for the pope’s recovery are ongoing not only at St. Peter’s Basilica but also throughout Italy and in various cities abroad.