Pope Francis no longer in imminent danger, say doctors

Rome: Pope Francis was no longer in imminent danger of death as a result of pneumonia that has kept him hospitalised for nearly a month, doctors said, although he would remain in hospital for several more days to receive treatment.

The doctors said the 88-year-old was stable and had consolidated improvements in recent days, as determined by blood tests and positive responses to drug treatments.

Pope Francis in February. Credit: AP

The Vatican said doctors had lifted their previous “guarded” prognosis, meaning they determined Francis was no longer in imminent danger as a result of the original respiratory infection for which he was hospitalised on February 14. But their cautious remained.

“In view of the complexity of the clinical picture and the important infectious picture presented on admission, it will be necessary to continue medical drug therapy in a hospital setting for additional days,” according to the Vatican statement.

In a sign of his improved health, Francis followed the Vatican’s week-long spiritual retreat via videoconference on Monday in both the morning and afternoon sessions.

He could see and hear the Reverend Roberto Pasolini, preacher of the papal household, but the priests, bishops and cardinals gathered for the retreat in the Vatican auditorium could not see or hear him.

Pasolini is delivering a series of meditations this week on “The hope of eternal life”, a theme that was chosen well before Francis was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital.

The retreat, an annual gathering that kicks off the Catholic Church’s solemn Lenten season leading to Easter, continues through the week. The Vatican has said Francis would participate “in spiritual communion” with the rest of the hierarchy, from afar.

Francis also resumed his physical and respiratory therapy at the Gemelli hospital, and rested and prayed in between. Francis has been using a nasal tube for supplemental oxygen to help him breathe during the day and a noninvasive mechanical ventilation mask at night, therapy that he was continuing on Monday.

The Pope, who has chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, had a bad case of bronchitis when hospitalised last month. The infection progressed into a complex respiratory tract infection and double pneumonia that have sidelined him for the longest period of his 12-year papacy and raised questions about the future.

Francis was still keeping his eye on things. The Vatican said he had been informed about floods in his native Argentina and expressed his closeness to the affected population.

AP

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