The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Francis has been diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia.
In a statement, the Catholic Church revealed that the pope’s respiratory infection “continues to present a complex picture.”
The 88-year-old pontiff has suffered from a respiratory infection for over a week.
He was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Friday.
The Vatican said Francis’s respiratory infection also involves asthmatic bronchitis.
The condition requires the use of cortisone antibiotic treatment.
In the Vatican’s latest update, a spokesperson said:
“Laboratory tests, chest X-ray, and the Holy Father’s clinical condition continue to present a complex picture.”
The statement added that the pontiff remains in good spirits and was thankful for prayers for his recovery.
Today, the Vatican City canceled papal audiences through the weekend.
The Catholic Church delegated others to step in for the pope who remains hospitalized due to his respiratory infection.
Earlier, Francis was said to be in a “stable” condition and does not have a fever after being admitted to hospital with bronchitis last week.
Despite this, his current bout in hospital has already surpassed a previous hospitalization for pneumonia in 2023.
Other Vatican operations are expected to continue as normal.
However, the recent cancellations could impact the Vatican’s big Holy Year.
The Catholic celebration occurs every 25 years.
It encourages Catholics to make the pilgrimage to Rome and participate in the Jubilee activities.
Around 30 million people are set to descend on Rome this Holy Year.
The special event will be packed with special papal audiences and Masses throughout 2025.
But now some of these have come into question as a timeline regarding the pope’s health remains unclear.
Francis was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital in a “fair” condition on Friday.
It came after a weeklong bout of bronchitis worsened.
On Monday, medical personnel determined that he was suffering from a polymicrobial respiratory tract infection.
The condition is a mix of viruses, bacteria, and possibly other organisms growing in his respiratory tract.
His condition has already required two changes in his drug regimen.
The Vatican previously confirmed it would mean he would have an “adequate” hospital stay.
The pope previously had part of one lung removed after a pulmonary infection when he was 21 years old.
He is prone to bouts of bronchitis in Winter.
Bronchitis, or an inflammation of the airwaves, can be relatively mild in a healthy person.
However, it can be more severe in someone who is older or has lung problems.
The concern, however, is that antibiotics and other drugs don’t work in isolation and require the body to respond.
Given Francis’s other problems, it may make recovery more challenging.
Dr. Carmelo D’Asero, an infectious disease and geriatric disease expert in Rome, said:
“The pope is at risk of pneumonia because of this polymicrobial bronchitis.
“We will see the effect of this new therapy in four to five days.”
D’Asero, who is not involved in Francis’s care, noted that his lack of fever was not necessarily a positive thing, given the seriousness of his infection.
“A high fever is a sign of an immune response to a pathogen,” he said.
“Having a low fever and having a serious bronchial infection is a sign of a decreased immune response and that makes us worry a little bit more, let’s say.
“Maybe if he had a fever, it would have been better.”
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said Francis once again had a peaceful night, ate breakfast, and read the newspapers Tuesday morning.
Yesterday the pope resumed some of his work, making his daily call to a Gaza City parish to check in on the Catholic community there.
In a sign that other Vatican business was proceeding as usual Tuesday, the Vatican No. 2, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, continued his delicate visit to Burkina Faso.
Another top Vatican cardinal, Cardinal Michael Czerny, also prepared to leave Wednesday for a five-day visit to Lebanon.
Despite this, other business will not go ahead as usual with no general audience on Wednesday.
It is also unclear if Francis will miss his Sunday noon blessing for a second week in a row.
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