Stable Pope Francis continued his visit from the Vatican Secretary of State on Sunday when he continued his recovery from double pneumonia, but once again skipped his weekly midday blessings to avoid a brief public appearance at the hospital.
Instead, the Vatican distributed a message to the Pope, thanking the doctors for their care and prayers for their blessings and praying again for peace in Ukraine and elsewhere.
“From here on the start, the war seems even more ridiculous,” the Vatican said. Francis said he was hospitalized, an experience of deep solidarity with people who were sick and distressed.
“The 'blessing' hidden deep in my heart is hidden in vulnerability, because it is at these moments that we learn more to trust the Lord.” “At the same time, I thank God for giving me the opportunity to share my body and spirit, to make the situation of many sick and suffering people.”
Signs point to recovery
Francis canceled Sunday's date for the third consecutive weekend, personally engaging in Angelus' prayers. If he was good enough, he could have done so from his 10th floor hospital suite at Gemelli Hospital.
But many signs he is improving, especially after a respiratory crisis on Friday afternoon, when he inhaled vomit while coughing and increased the likelihood of a new infection.
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“The night is quiet and the pope is still resting,” the Vatican said in its update on Sunday. Francis got up, read Sunday's paper and drank coffee and breakfast while continuing to receive treatment.
According to Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni, Pietro Parolin and his chief of staff Archbishop Edgar Pena Parra also called the Pope on Sunday morning, the second visit since Francis was hospitalized on February 14. There is no detail about what is discussed, but mere visits indicate that Francis's condition is stabilizing.
Saturday's doctor reported that Francis was in a stable condition, not mentioning that he was important and managed to spend “long” time with noninvasive mechanical ventilation that he needed to recover after Friday's respiratory crisis.
The Vatican said the 88-year-old pope had a “good response” to his gas exchange levels even outside of the ventilator mask on Saturday and only used high flows to supplement oxygen.
He showed no signs of fever or elevated white blood cells, which suggests his body is fighting a new infection.
The fact that Francis used only high flow oxygen for a long time had no significant effect on the oxygen levels in his blood, suggesting that his respiratory function was improving.
However, the doctor was cautious and maintained the prognosis, which meant he was not at risk. The Vatican said he was eating and drinking, continuing his respiratory physiotherapy and spent 20 minutes in a private chapel under the hall on Saturday.
Part of the pope was removed when he was young, suffering from lung disease and was admitted to gemelli on February 14 after two times bronchitis in the lungs deteriorated and turned into complex pneumonia.
Pray to keep pouring
Francis' hospitalization has arrived as the Vatican is marking its holy year, attracting pilgrims from all over the place. Many people have added a pilgrimage destination to their itinerary, so they can pray for Francis at the Gemelli Hospital, about 20 minutes’ drive from the Vatican, longer during peak hours or in public transport.
Pastor Riccardo Fumagalli accompanied a group of young men from Milan to Rome for the Jubilee Year, if he served Angelus of Francis as usual. Instead, they went to Gemelli.
“It seems like a good thing for us to come here to express our intimacy, especially those of these teenagers, pray for him, pray for his illness,” he said.
Cancer patient Antonino Cacace also arrived at Gemelli from Milan on Sunday for his treatment, saying he had to undergo surgery in the coming days and rely on Francis' prayers.
“I'm glad the Pope helped me,” he said. “I'm on the ninth (floor), he's on the tenth (floor). I want to see him, see him,” he said.
& Copy 2025 Canadian Press
