Key Points
- Pope Francis has been in hospital since 14 February with double pneumonia.
- He has not been seen in public since entering hospital.
- No exact timeframe has been given for Francis’ discharge.
Pope Francis is no longer in immediate danger of death and is responding well to treatment in hospital, the Vatican said on Tuesday, in a sign of progress as the 88-year-old pontiff battles double pneumonia.
Francis has been in Rome’s Gemelli hospital for more than three weeks. He was admitted on 14 February with a severe respiratory infection that has required evolving treatment.
In its latest medical update, the Vatican said the pope’s doctors had decided to lift an earlier “guarded” prognosis, meaning the pontiff was no longer in immediate danger.
Although the doctors lifted their earlier prognosis, the Vatican said they still expect Francis “to continue medical drug treatment in a hospital setting for further days.”
No exact timeframe was given for his discharge.
The Vatican said earlier on Monday that Francis was continuing his treatment and was undergoing respiratory physiotherapy to help with his breathing.
The pope is receiving oxygen in hospital, using a small oxygen hose under his nose during the day and non-invasive mechanical ventilation at night while he sleeps.
Francis, who will celebrate the 12th anniversary of his 2013 election as pope on Thursday, has not been seen in public since entering hospital, the longest such absence of his papacy.
Doctors not involved in Francis’ care said the pope is likely to face a long, fraught road to recovery, given his age and other medical conditions.
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