Pope Francis is out of medical danger, doctors say, but will remain in hospital

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — A week after his last respiratory crisis, doctors say Pope Francis continues to show signs of improvement and is currently out of medical danger.

“The improvements recorded in the previous days have been further confirmed, as proven by the blood tests and clinical exams and the good response to pharmacological therapy,” read a Vatican statement on Monday (March 10), relaying a report by his doctors.

Since the pope continues to be medically stable, the doctors said he is no longer in mortal danger. However, given “the complexity of the clinical picture” and the significant infection the pope had when he was hospitalized, “it will be necessary to continue, for additional days, the pharmacological medical therapy in a hospital environment,” the statement read.

Pope Francis admitted himself to the Gemelli Hospital in Rome on Feb. 14, following weeks of bronchitis. The doctors diagnosed him with a polymicrobial infection, meaning a variety of bacteria, fungi or viruses caused pneumonia in both his lungs. Francis suffered several acute respiratory crises and insufficiencies, leading doctors to previously state he was in critical condition. 

During the daytime, the pope has high oxygen flow through his nostrils, while at night, he relies on non-invasive mechanical ventilation to ensure enough oxygen circulates throughout his body.

On the days when the pope was feeling better in the hospital, he resumed his work and met with close Vatican collaborators, including Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and the substitute (the Vatican equivalent of chief of staff), Archbishop Edgar Pena Parra.

Francis has been unable to oversee many of the liturgies and events of the 2025 Jubilee year, an anniversary celebration in which millions of pilgrims are to visit Rome and seek forgiveness for their sins. He also has missed Lenten celebrations leading up to Easter.

Members of the offices and departments that make up the Vatican Curia took part in spiritual exercises for Lent at the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican. Francis followed along online and received the Eucharist before praying at the private chapel at the hospital, according to the Holy See press office.

In the evenings, Vatican Curial members and ordinary faithful have been taking part in a rosary prayer service in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City, asking Mary for the pope’s recovery.

From the hospital, the pope also “expressed his closeness” to those affected by the Bahia Blanca flood in Argentina, his native country, according to the Vatican press office.

While the pope’s health shows “positive signs,” the Vatican advised “prudence and caution” in assessing his medical situation given the complexity of his clinical status and the fact that Francis has not yet fully overcome pneumonia. Moreover, he has been susceptible to respiratory infections his entire life, which resulted in a portion of his lung being removed when he was a youth.

It remains unclear how much longer the 88-year-old pontiff will be hospitalized, but Vatican observers believe he will likely not be able to perform all his previous papal duties and will increasingly rely on the aid of his collaborators, as he has done during his hospitalization.