Pope Francis responds well to pneumonia therapy and showing “a gradual and light improvement” – San Diego Union -Tribune

By Nicole Winfield

Rome (AP) – Pope Francis responds well to the treatment of double pneumonia and has shown a “gradual and light improvement” in recent days, the Vatican announced on Saturday. But his doctors have decided to keep his prognosis as guarded, which means that he is not yet out of danger.

The 88 -year -old pope, who suffers from a chronic pulmonary disease and has been part of a lung removed as a young man, remained stable, without fever and good oxygen levels in his blood for several days, doctors reported in a Vatican declaration.

Doctors said that such stability “accordingly testifies to a good response to therapy”. It was the first time that doctors have reported that Francis has responded positively to the treatment of complex pulmonary infection diagnosed after being hospitalized on February 14.

Francis worked and rested on the day of the day, when he entered his fourth week at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome with his condition stabilized after a few crises of acute respiratory crises last week.

“In order to record these initial improvements in the coming days, his doctors have cautiously maintained the prognosis as guarded,” the statement said.

In his absence, the daily operations of the Vatican continued, Cardinal Pietro Parolin celebrating mass for an anti-abortion group in the Saint-Pierre basilica. At the beginning, Parolin transmitted a message from the Pope of the hospital on the need to protect life, from birth to natural death.

In the message, dated March 5 and addressed to the movement for life, which seeks to provide women alternatives to abortion, Francis encouraged the faithful to promote anti-abortion activities not only for the child, but “for the elderly, no longer independent or incurably sick”.

Later on Saturday, another cardinal closely associated with Francis’ papacy, Canadian Cardinal Michael Czerny, presides over the night recitation of prayers for Francis. Czerny then returns Sunday to celebrate Mass of the Holy Year for the volunteers that Francis was supposed to have celebrated.

Francis used high additional oxygen flows to help him breathe during the day and a non -invasive mechanical ventilation mask at night.

Francis was hospitalized on February 14 for what was only a bad case of bronchitis. The infection has progressed in a complex respiratory tract infection and a double pneumonia that has sidelined Francis for the longest period of its 12 -year papacy and raised questions about the future.

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Originally published: March 7, 2025 at 11:51 pm PST