
Pope Francis, 88, had a calm night at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, the Vatican reported on Sunday, providing an update on his condition as he continues treatment for pneumonia. The Vatican shared that the Pope, who has been in a special papal suite since February 14, is resting and responding well to the ongoing treatment.
“The night was calm, the pope is resting,” the Vatican said in its morning update. While the Pope has experienced several respiratory issues since his hospitalization, the Vatican assured that his condition is now stable, and he has not faced any further respiratory crises in recent days.
The Vatican had stated on Saturday that Pope Francis showed “gradual, slight improvement” and that he is responding well to the prescribed treatment. Although he is not running a fever, his doctors want to see continued positive progress in the coming days before making a definitive prognosis, according to an evening medical bulletin.
In recent years, Pope Francis has faced several health challenges, including colon surgery in 2021 and a hernia operation in 2023. However, this hospitalization is the longest and most serious one of his papacy.
Pope Francis has typically appeared on the balcony of the hospital for his weekly Sunday Angelus prayer, but he will miss his fourth consecutive Angelus this week. Instead, the Vatican has said the message will be published as a letter at noon, as it was in previous weeks when he was unable to attend in person.
Catholics around the world continue to pray for the Pope’s full recovery as he remains under medical care.