Sick Pope: Vatican: Francis’ Condition “further improved”

According to official information, Pope Francis is still on the way of improvement. “The clinical condition of the Holy Father has improved today,” says the daily bulletin from the Gemelli Hospital in Rome, which the Vatican published in the evening. The 88-year-old, who suffers from serious pneumonia, received oxygen physiotherapy. In addition, he was supplied with oxygen via an breathing mask. Before that it was said that Francis was in good spirits.

However, an early release is not to be expected. “In view of the complexity of the clinical picture, further days of clinical stability are required,” said the message. The head of the Catholic Church was instructed to the university clinic two weeks ago on Friday. In the meantime, the Pontifex is in the hospital as long than ever.

Work in the afternoon again

On March 13th – in two weeks – it was twelve years ago that the Argentine was elected to the Pope. It is speculated that Francis definitely wants to be back in the Vatican. On Thursday he got physiotherapy twice. In the afternoon, the Pope received, prayed and then worked in his wing on the tenth floor of the hospital.

However, doctors still point out how dangerous such serious pneumonia in Francis’ age is. The General Director of the Gemelli Clinic Foundation, Marco Elfermani, described the Pope’s state of health in a speech as “actually quite critical”. There is a “slightly positive development that makes us a little more optimistic, but always in a general framework, as we have described it.”

Further oxygen and cortisone

Because of his breathing problems, the Pope has received several additional oxygen in high dose in the past few days. Obviously, this therapy strikes: According to official information, he has no longer had any major shortage of breath since the weekend. The blood values ​​have also improved. He also receives a number of medication, including cortisone. He has not been seen for the public since the delivery in mid -February.

In the meantime, the announcement that Francis wants to convene a consistency, i.e. a meeting of the cardinals, caused speculation. This nourished rumors about resignation because the German Pope Benedict XVI. in February 2013 at such a consistory surprisingly avoided his office. From the Vatican, all speculation about Francis’ idea of ​​withdrawal has already been contradicted several times. There is still no date for the consistory.