Pope Francis, who has been in the hospital for just over two weeks fighting double pneumonia, is in a stable condition and no longer had respiratory crises, said the Vatican on Saturday afternoon (1st).
After days of cautious optimism, the 88-year-old pontiff suffered a setback on Friday, undergoing a respiratory crisis that caused concern. Respiratory tract constriction is similar to an asthma attack.
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On Saturday afternoon, the Vatican said the Pope had no fever or showed signs of increasing white blood cell count. Blood flow and circulation remained stable.
A high counting of white blood cells usually indicates the presence of an active infection or inflammation.
“The clinical condition of the Holy Father remained stable,” said the Vatican, adding that the prognosis was cautious, which means that Francis was not out of danger.
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The Vatican said that, for the second consecutive day, the Pope needed noninvasive mechanical ventilation, alternating between this and “long periods of high flow oxygen therapy.”
The Pope continued to feed and always conscious, according to the statement.
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Francisco was admitted to the Gemelli Hospital of Rome on February 14 with serious breathing problems that quickly degenerated in double pneumonia – a severe infection in the lungs that can ignite and cause scars, making breathing difficult.
Francisco has had several health problems in the last two years and is prone to pulmonary infections because he had pleurisy as a young man and had part of a removed lung.
The Pope has not been seen in public since entering the hospital, his longest absence since the beginning of his papacy in March 2013, and his doctors have not said how long his treatment can last.
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As expected, the Vatican said that, for the third consecutive week, the Pope would not lead his usual Sunday prayers with the pilgrims and that, once again, the text of Angelus’ prayer would be published instead of read.
(Report by Crispian Balmer; Edition of Valentina Za, Barbara Lewis and Marguerita Choy)
