Pope Francis: His condition is currently considered “stable”

After a severe respiratory crisis on Friday, the health of Pope Francis (88) shows signs of stabilization. The Pontifex spent a quiet night in the Roman Gemelli Clinic. “The Pope rested well all night,” said the tight explanation of the Holy Chair.

Francis, who has been treated for more than two weeks because of a pneumonia in the hospital on both sides, suffered a setback last Friday when he was affected by a sudden bronchospasm – a cramp -like narrowing of the airways. This led to acute breathing problems, which made mechanical ventilation necessary.

However, the state of health of the top of the church improved continuously over the weekend. that the “general condition of the Pope remained stable today”. The doctors were able to stop taking the non-invasive mechanical ventilation and instead provided the Pontifex with “high-flow oxygen therapy”. In addition, Francis is now free of fever.

On Sunday morning, the Pope could even take part in a trade fair that was celebrated in his hospital room. This also indicates a certain improvement in his condition, even if the head of the church still cannot return to public appearances.

“The isolated crisis of a bronchospasm from last Friday did not make any direct consequences,” the Vatican also reported. Nevertheless, the forecast remains behavior in view of the “complexity of the clinical picture”. There is still the risk of relapse, which is why the doctors do not make long -term forecasts to the course of the disease.

Due to his state of health, the Pope had to drop the traditional Angelus prayer on St. Peter’s Square for the third time in a row. Instead, as on the past Sundays, a text written by Francis was published. In it, the Pontifex thanked the numerous prayers and good wishes for his recovery.

As the Vatican already announced, Pope Francis will not be able to lead the upcoming Ash Wednesday service on March 5, which marks the beginning of Lent. The Pontifex has been treated in the Gemelli Hospital since February 14th. His health problems are complicated by a history of lung complaints. As a young man, Francis had already survived a partial pulmonary removal due to pulmonary infections.