Pope Francis “slept through the night,” his 19th night in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, “and now continues to rest,” the Vatican said at 8:20 a.m. on Tuesday, March 4.
In a briefing at midday, Vatican press officer Matteo Bruni reported that the pope “is no longer using the non-invasive mechanical ventilation,” a mask that covers the nose and mouth and pumps oxygen into the lungs, and is instead receiving “high-flow oxygen” through a nasal tube. This appears to be a positive sign after the pope experienced two acute breathing crises on Monday. Mr. Bruni said there will be another medical report this evening.
An informed Vatican source said today, “Pope Francis’ overall situation is stable, within the complexity of his clinical situation.” He underlined, however, that “the prognosis remains guarded, which means the pope is not yet out of danger.” He said the 88-year-old pope “is continuing with his medical treatment and respiratory therapy, with the assistance of specialists” and “is in good spirits.”
Last evening, the same source reported that “the pope’s blood tests showed that he does not have an elevated white blood cell count, suggesting he has no new respiratory infection. The two respiratory crisis episodes appear to have been overcome. His clinical condition remains complex, however, and further respiratory crises remain possible.” He believes that the pope’s breathing crises have all come from a common source: the pneumonia infection that persists in both lungs. He explained that the cause of the two breathing crises yesterday was the reaction of the bronchi, which attempted to expel the accumulated mucus in order to eliminate the bacteria.
Pope Francis has been in hospital since Feb. 14 and is receiving treatment for bilateral pneumonia. On Monday afternoon, he had suffered “two episodes of acute respiratory insufficiency” caused by the accumulation of a significant amount of mucus in his lungs that triggered bronchial spasms. His doctors performed bronchoscopies on both occasions to remove the mucus buildup that caused the breathing crises. They then placed a mask over his nose and mouth to enable him to receive oxygen; this process is known as “non-invasive mechanical ventilation,” a method also used for much of last week.
According to the medical report, Pope Francis “remained alert, oriented and cooperative at all times” on Monday, as was the case during the previous breathing crises on Feb. 22 and Feb. 28.
Around the world, Catholics, other Christians, and followers of other religions and no religion are praying for and sending good wishes to the pope. For eight consecutive evenings, crowds led by prominent cardinals and bishops have prayed the Rosary in St. Peter’s Square, which has been broadcast live by Vatican Media. On March 3, Cardinal Robert Prevost, O.S.A., the prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Bishops, presided over the prayer service attended by cardinals, bishops, members of the Roman Curia, women and men religious and hundreds of Romans and pilgrims from many countries. He invited everyone to “remain in prayer with Mary, Mother of the Church, for the health of the Holy Father Francis.”
In normal times, some 500 media personnel—journalists, TV and radio reporters, and camera operators—are accredited to the Holy See Press Office, but since the pope was hospitalized, around 700 additional media professionals from around the world have come to Rome to report on his situation.
The Vatican today released the program for the annual retreat for cardinals, bishops and other officials and employees of the Roman Curia, which will be held in the Vatican’s Paul VI audience hall from Sunday evening, March 9, to the morning of Friday, March 14. Roberto Pasolini, O.F.M.Cap., the preacher of the papal household, will give the meditations on the theme “The Hope of Eternal Life.”
Given that the pope is now in his 19th day in hospital, and to prevent people from drawing false conclusions from the theme of the retreat, Mr. Bruni, the Vatican spokesman, told the press that this theme was chosen long before Francis was admitted to Gemelli Hospital. The pope will join the retreatants “in a communion of prayer,” he added.
The Vatican announced Feb. 28 that Pope Francis would not lead his traditional Ash Wednesday services in Rome tomorrow, March 5, and that Francis had instead delegated the traditional procession and Mass that marks the start of Lent to Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, the major penitentiary or head of the Apostolic Penitentiary, a church court dealing with matters of conscience.
Material from Catholic News Service was used in this report.
