Balloons depicting Pope Francis are laid on the statue of John Paul II outdoors the Gemelli hospital the place Pope Francis is hospitalized, in Rome on Feb. 24, 2025. Pope Francis, in important situation in hospital with pneumonia, had a superb night time and was resting, the Vatican stated Monday.
ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
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ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
ROME — The Vatican introduced Monday morning that Pope Francis had a “restful” night time within the Italian hospital the place he is been receiving remedy for a fancy respiratory an infection that features double pneumonia and bronchitis.
“The night went well; the Pope slept and is resting,” in line with a assertion that the Holy See Press Workplace printed Monday.
Francis, 88, had remained in important situation all through the weekend after extreme respiratory difficulties had been reported Saturday morning. He has continued to obtain high-flow oxygen remedy by way of his nostril at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, which he entered virtually two weeks in the past. The pope’s medical group had stated Sunday he had additionally proven indicators of “mild” kidney failure, although the Vatican stated that was below management.
The well being disaster going through the pontiff, who was elected pope in 2013, has led to his absence from some common Vatican appearances and drawn teams of Catholic worshippers to St. Peter’s Sq. to wish for his restoration.
On Saturday night, youngsters from a Catholic spiritual group referred to as the Salesians stood in a circle, murmuring quiet prayers for the pope’s well being.
On Sunday, extra prayers had been held on the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the Catholic cathedral of Rome, at what Stefano D’Agnese, an attendee, known as “a difficult moment.” “We are sincerely deeply concerned for our Holy Father,” stated D’Agnese, “so prayer is really the moment of union, isn’t it? It makes us feel together and with hope in the heart that this difficult moment can be resolved.”
Archbishop Rino Fisichella, a senior Vatican official who presided over a Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on Sunday, known as on parishioners to make their prayers for Francis “stronger and more fervent.”
Hospitalized in mid-February, the pope continued to work
The pontiff was admitted to the hospital on Feb. 14 for a case of bronchitis. He had been in steady situation however suffered a polymicrobial an infection that pressured him to stay within the hospital. Shortly after that, the Vatican introduced Francis had developed pneumonia in each lungs, and required additional remedy.
On Saturday, the Vatican stated Francis had skilled an “asthma-like respiratory crisis” that required supplemental oxygen. The pope was additionally recognized with thrombocytopenia, a situation characterised by a low rely of the platelets in blood that assist to kind clots. He was given blood transfusions to assist “bring up his hemoglobin levels,” the newest assertion Monday morning stated.
Regardless of his ongoing hospitalization, the pontiff continued a few of his work. The Vatican stated the pope was alert, sitting upright, participated in Mass and browse among the well-wishes which have flooded in from around the globe.
On Sunday, he missed the midday blessing for the second weekend in a row, however two homilies had been delivered in his title.
In the meantime, high church officers dismissed what they known as rumors that the pope might resign from his publish. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, stated in an interview with the Corriere della Sera newspaper that any potential modifications in management had been “unfounded speculation” in the meanwhile.
“I think it is quite normal in these situations for unverified rumors to circulate or for misplaced comments to be made — this is certainly not the first time,” Parolin stated. “However, I do not believe there is any particular movement in this regard, and so far, I have not heard anything of the sort.”
