After 21 days of silence, Pope Francis sent an audio message of thanks from his hospital bed to the crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square this evening to recite the Rosary for his recovery.
The Spanish cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, S.D.B., the cardinal pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, led tonight’s Rosary and began by telling the crowd, “I have most beautiful news tonight: The pope has gifted us with an audio message.” The crowd erupted in applause as the cardinal played the audio.
“I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers for my health from the Square; I accompany you from here,” Pope Francis said in a feeble voice. “May God bless you and the Virgin protect you. Thank you.”
This unexpected message came after the Vatican released the latest reassuring medical bulletin from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital after 7:30 p.m., March 6. It said that Pope Francis’ “clinical condition remained stable compared to the previous days.” It confirmed that he has had “no episodes of respiratory insufficiency” since the two acute breathing crises he experienced on Monday.
“The Holy Father continued respiratory therapy and motor physiotherapy with benefit,” the report from the hospital said.
Also on the positive side, the medical update said, the pope’s “hemodynamic parameters and blood tests remained stable,” and, as on previous days, “he did not have fever.”
His doctors “still keep the guarded prognosis,” the report said, meaning he is not yet out of danger.
While the doctors have released a medical report every night since Pope Francis entered the hospital on Feb. 14, tonight’s update announced that “in consideration of the stability of the clinical picture [of the pope], the next medical bulletin will be released on Saturday.”
Furthermore, it said that Pope Francis “dedicated himself to some work activities during the morning and afternoon.” He “alternated rest and prayer,” and before lunch he received the Eucharist.
Dr. Anna Lisa Bilotta, who works in the Salvator Mundi International Hospital in Rome and is not treating the pope, told America that it is clear from today’s report that “the situation is stable like the last two days, and that is a good sign.” She said it is also good that “the laboratory tests showed the blood parameters have remained stable.” Moreover, she said, “the fact that the pope is continuing with the respiratory therapy and motor physiotherapy is a very good sign.”
Commenting on the fact that the doctors will not issue an update on his condition until Saturday, Dr. Bilotta said, “In treating pneumonia, you have to have patience and wait for the therapies to produce a definite effect; the doctors cannot say something new every day given that the situation is stable.” She added that “from the outside, we do not know if the antibiotics are functioning well.” She explained that “pneumonia is a serious illness, and in a normal patient, it takes at least 15 to 20 days to cure, and also requires treatment in the hospital with oxygen.” In the pope’s case, she added, “it could take several weeks, given the various pathologies he has, and also his age.” She concluded, “We must be patient.”
