Pope Francis’ clinical condition continues to be stable, with gradual improvements again reported today. His doctors confirmed that his life is no longer in imminent danger but said he will have to remain in the hospital for some time, without specifying how long.
The Vatican said his doctors did not issue a medical update today but will do so tomorrow evening.
Early today, March 11, the Vatican reported that Francis had a “restful” 25th night in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he is being treated for double pneumonia, and woke up at about 8 a.m.
Later in the day, an informed Vatican source confirmed that the Argentine pope followed a program prescribed by his doctors almost a week ago: He continued his pharmacological treatment and physical therapy for respiration and mobility.
The source reported that both this morning and this afternoon, the Jesuit pope again followed, via video link, the Spiritual Exercises for members of the Roman Curia, given by the Italian Franciscan priest, Roberto Pasolini, OFM Cap., in the Vatican’s Paul VI Audience Hall. The retreat began last Sunday evening, March 9, and ends Friday morning, March 14.
During this week, the Rosary for the pope’s recovery is being recited not in St. Peter’s Square but in the Vatican’s Paul VI Audience Hall at the end of the evening meditation by Fr. Pasolini, the Preacher of the Papal Household. Pilgrims can follow the Rosary on maxi-screens in St. Peter’s Square. Last evening’s Rosary was led by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family and Life.
Francis spent time in prayer today and received the Eucharist, the Vatican said. He also went to pray in the small chapel in his private apartment on the 10th floor of the Gemelli Hospital. Today’s Vatican reports do not mention the pope working as they have on other days, suggesting that, like the Roman Curia officials, the pope is instead praying and resting. An informed source appeared to confirm this when he said the pope did not receive visitors, so as to dedicate himself to prayer and the Spiritual Exercises.
“Pope Francis is in good humor, knowing that he is getting better,” an informed source said. But another source told America, “He is anxious to get out of the hospital and return to Santa Marta, the Vatican guesthouse where he lives, so he can return to work.” The pope’s doctors stated clearly in last evening’s medical update that he has to spend “more days” in the hospital because of “the complexity” of his overall condition.
From informed Vatican sources we know that his pneumonia “has not been overcome yet” and that he is still on oxygen. Francis wears a mask over his nose and mouth at night to receive oxygen from mechanical ventilation, and during the day he receives high flow oxygen through the nasal cannulas (or tubes). His breathing has improved greatly, sources say, but the doctors have to gradually wean him off of receiving oxygen in these ways.
Pope no longer in ‘imminent danger’
For the first time since the pope was admitted to the hospital on Feb. 14, his doctors announced yesterday that they had lifted the “guarded prognosis” and signaled that his life was no longer in imminent danger. A “guarded” prognosis signaled that the pope's life was in danger and that doctors could not predict the likely outcome of his condition.) They explained that they decided on removing the “guarded prognosis” because his clinical condition “had remained stable” for a whole week, which is a good sign, and the improvements recorded in previous days “were further consolidated,” as confirmed by blood tests, clinical findings and his positive response to medications.
However, as Dr. Anna Lisa Bilotta, who works in the Salvator Mundi international Hospital in Rome and is not treating the pope, explained to America on March 10 and confirmed today, the removal of the “guarded prognosis” does not mean that Pope Francis is completely out of danger, because his overall clinical situation is “complex.” Complicating factors include that his pneumonia has not yet been completely overcome, he has several different pathologies, and he is advanced in age—now 88 years old—and has been hospitalized with a severe condition for more than three weeks. Given all this, she said, his doctors have to move cautiously because “something unforeseen can always happen.”
Sergio Alfieri, the surgeon who has operated on Pope Francis twice and is the lead doctor of his medical team at the Gemelli, stated clearly in a press briefing on Feb. 21 that the pope could not return to the Vatican until the pneumonia was fully overcome because of the risk of a relapse.
Dr. Bilotta, like several other doctors consulted in the Italian press, thinks the pope may need at least a week or more in the hospital before returning to the Vatican. At the same time, she, like other Italian specialists in the field, agrees that keeping him there too long is also risky, as he could contract other infections there.
It would seem therefore that the pope’s doctors are following the ancient Latin adage: “Festina lente,” which means, “make haste slowly” or “proceed expeditiously but prudently.”
In the meantime, Catholics, other Christians, followers of other religions and non-religious people around the world are praying for the pope’s recovery. Among them are the students of Bethlehem University in Palestine, who sent him the following letter:
Your Holiness,
With admiration and respect, with gratitude and heartfelt concern, we, the Student Senate, the Christian Youth Group, and the students of Bethlehem University, write to you in this time of your illness to express our solidarity, support, and prayers for your healing.
In your Advent letter to us, you told us to ‘never seek to “go it alone”’—indeed, if you visited campus today, you would find Bethlehem University to be a vibrant place of Muslim-Christian encounter and companionship, united by our desire for excellence, service, and peace. We are grateful for your prayers and encouragement.
We do not want you to “go it alone” either; we raise our united voice in prayer for your speedy recovery in order to keep raising your voice for peace, for justice, and for the respect of the dignity of every human being. We are grateful for your witness to God’s love.
From Bethlehem, from the birthplace of Christ, we invoke blessings upon you in this vulnerable time:
May God the most merciful guide your doctors, restore your health, and renew your strength to serve the Church who is learning to serve the world alongside you. Amen.
