Pope Francis, who was hospitalized last week, has been diagnosed with pneumonia affecting both lungs, according to a statement from the Vatican on Tuesday. The 88-year-old pontiff is reported to be in “good spirits.”
The Vatican issued a statement indicating that the laboratory results, chest X-ray, and the clinical status of the Holy Father remain intricate.
Pope Francis was hospitalized at Rome’s Gemelli hospital last Friday due to bronchitis, but the Vatican announced on Monday that his treatment plan would be adjusted based on the test outcomes.
On Tuesday, it was reported that a “polymicrobial infection” has developed alongside “bronchiectasis and asthmatic bronchitis,” necessitating cortisone antibiotic therapy, which complicates the therapeutic approach.
The recent chest CT scan conducted on the Holy Father this afternoon revealed the early stages of bilateral pneumonia, necessitating further medication, according to the statement.
At the age of 21, the pontiff underwent surgery to remove a portion of his right lung due to pleurisy, a condition that nearly claimed his life.
The Vatican had previously canceled a papal audience scheduled for Saturday and announced that he would miss the mass on Sunday, although details regarding his weekly Angelus prayer have yet to be disclosed.
“Despite this, Pope Francis remains in good spirits,” the statement noted.
According to the Vatican, the pope has been in the hospital for five days, spending his time between rest, prayer, and reading.
Pilgrims pray
Pope Francis, who has led the Catholic Church since 2013, was hospitalized after experiencing difficulties reading his texts in public over the past few days.
This marks the latest in a series of health challenges for the Jesuit leader, who has undergone hernia and colon surgeries since 2021 and relies on a wheelchair due to knee pain.
Among the pilgrims and tourists in Saint Peter’s Square on Tuesday, many expressed their hopes for the pope’s swift recovery.
“I hope that he’s getting better soon,” said Birgit Jungreuthmayer, a 48-year-old tourist from Austria, in a statement to AFP.
Others gathered outside Gemelli hospital, lighting candles and offering prayers.
“I came to say a prayer for the pope so that he may recover soon. I send him my best wishes,” remarked Jacqueline Troncoso, a Bolivian resident of Rome.
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The Vatican shared drawings created by children in the hospital for the pope, along with letters from parents requesting his prayers for their ill children.
The Vatican noted that Francis “gives thanks for the closeness he feels at this time and asks, with a grateful heart, that we continue to pray for him.”
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