Pope Francis’s recovery from double pneumonia in hospital is entering its fourth week, with questions being raised about what the future of his papacy might look like.
The pontiff followed the opening of a spiritual retreat by videoconference yesterday, but could not be seen or heard by priests, bishops and cardinals in the Vatican auditorium.
The Pope remains in Rome’s Gemelli hospital, where he was admitted on February 14, ahead of the 12th anniversary of his election on Thursday.
In its early update Monday, the Vatican said Francis was resting after a quiet night.
At the time of his hospitalization last month, the 88-year-old pope, who has chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, had what was then just a bad case of bronchitis.
The infection progressed into a complex respiratory tract infection and double pneumonia that has sidelined Francis for the longest period of his papacy and prompted questions about the future.
He has remained in stable condition for over a week, with no fever, respiratory crises and good oxygen levels in his blood for several days, doctors reported.
The doctors said that such stability was in itself a positive thing and showed he was responding well to therapy.
But they kept his prognosis as ‘guarded,’ meaning that he’s not out of danger. Doctors were expected to provide a medical update later Monday.
The pontiff followed the opening of a spiritual retreat by videoconference yesterday, but could not be seen or heard (file image)
Faithful attend a Rosary prayer for the health of Pope Francis who is hospitalized with pneumonia, in St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City, March 9
A statement on the Pope’s X account yesterday read: ‘I think of the many people who find various ways to be close to the sick, becoming a sign of the Lord’s presence for them.
‘We need this ‘miracle of tenderness’ to accompany those who face adversity, in order to bring a little light into the night of pain.’
The Vatican will mark the pontiff’s election anniversary in his absence, making it the first anniversary celebration with him out of sight.
Francis was elected the 266th pope, the first Jesuit pope and first from Latin America, on March 13, 2013 following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI.
On Sunday, Francis met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin and the chief of staff, Archbishop Edgar Pena Parra, for the third time at the hospital.
Such meetings are the routine way the pope governs, and shows Francis is still keeping up with essential business.
While Francis has previously praised Benedict for his courage and humility in resigning, he has indicated more recently that he believes the job of pope is for life and said as recently as last year that he had no plans of stepping down.
The Pope remains in Rome’s Gemelli hospital, where he was admitted on February 14. Pictured: Faithful, priests and nuns pray outside yesterday
Francis has been using high flows of supplemental oxygen to help him breathe during the day and a noninvasive mechanical ventilation mask at night.
The Vatican is currently observing a weeklong spiritual retreat, with the Pope listening to the opening by the Rev. Roberto Pasolini from his hospital room yesterday.
Pasolini delivered a meditation on ‘The hope of eternal life,’ a theme that was chosen well before Francis was admitted.
The retreat, which is 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.
