Pontiff has been hospitalized since Friday (14.FEV); Vatican says the health condition follows “complex”
The Vatican This Thursday (18.FEV.2025) that Pope Francis, 88, was diagnosed with pneumonia bilateral. The diagnosis was confirmed through a computed tomography of the chest, held this afternoon, and required a “additional pharmacological therapy”. According to the Holy See, the Pontiff follows with a state of health considered “complex”.
O Poder360 He talked to the doctors pneumologists, from E, do.
In an interview, Fiss explained that bilateral pneumonia is an infection caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi, affecting both lungs. “Bilateral pneumonia is a severe condition, especially for an elderly patient. It is very common to start with a viral infection and evolve into a bacterial infection”Said the doctor.
FISS also pointed out that this form of the disease is more severe than common pneumoniabecause it compromises the 2 lungs, significantly increasing the risk of evolution to a widespread infection.In very elderly patients, the risk of complicating an existing infection increases considerably”He said.
According to the expert, the disease manifests itself in various forms in each patient. “In general, symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath. However, depending on the extent of the infection, the patient may have difficulties in blood oxygenation”He explained.
Augusto Leite stressed that, despite gravity, patients with bilateral pneumonia often respond well to the treatment that is done in the same way as a unilateral pneumonia – when it affects 1 lung. “Patients with bilateral pneumonia often respond well to antibiotics, who should be administered as soon as possible” Poder360.
Pope’s health
Pope Francis has been dealing with lung problems since 1957, when he was 20 years old. At the time, he removed part of the lung after a respiratory infection.
The religious has been ahead of the Vatican since March 2013 and has faced health problems in recent years. In 2021, he had to have surgery in the large intestine and was hospitalized for 11 days. In 2023, he underwent surgery on his abdomen.
In December 2024, the Pope fell and was injured in his right forearm and was immobilized by a precaution. In early February, the religious leader stumbled after the handle of his cane breaks. He has not been injured.
Currently, the Pope lives with back and knee pain, as well as using one since December 2024.
In a statement issued this Thursday (18.FEV), the Vatican He reported that Pope Francis follows without fever and stable clinical picture. However, the Diagnosis of bilateral pneumonia was later confirmed in a new statement.
The pontiff is hospitalized at the Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital in Rome (Italy), since Friday (14.FEV) to treat an airway infection. After confirming a polymicrobial infection, the Vatican evaluated its clinical picture as “complex”.
