Pope Francis has shown “slight improvements” and is responding well to ongoing oxygen therapy, according to a Vatican statement.
The 88-year-old Pope has been in the hospital since February 14th. He was later identified in a respiratory problem, which was found to have bilateral pneumonia.
Doctors continue to assess his condition, thus wrapping and decreasing the Pope's prognosis.
Mexican painter Roberto Marquez paints a painting of Pope Francis that he created outside the Agostino Gemeri Hospital in Rome on Wednesday, March 5th, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
On Thursday, the Pope recorded a message of thanks to those who were praying for his recovery. The recording was “obviously an effort for him,” Vatican sources said they noted that noise from the Pope's oxygen machine could be heard through audio.
Pope Francis suffers from two acute respiratory crises, the Vatican says
“I could hear yesterday that he was getting oxygen from his nose during the audio. Obviously he didn't read Angelus,” a Vatican source told Fox News.
Pope Francis is waving to his followers as he left Cercle Prime Minister on September 26, 2024 in Luxembourg city after meeting Luxembourg's prime minister on a four-day apostle journey in Luxembourg and Belgium. (Simon Whlfahrt/AFP/Getty)
Ash Wednesdays were different this year as the Pope couldn't lead the public. Instead, Cardinal Angelo de Donatis heard the holy voice of the Pope in the Santa Sabrina Basilica in Rome.
Pope Francis “believes that the Pope is for life,” says historian biologist.
The Pope had a long history of respiratory problems. When he was only 21 years old, Pope Francis developed a pleura and then removed part of his lungs. This is inflammation of the membrane that relieves the lungs. Currently, Vatican sources say he is continuing to treat bilateral pneumonia.
The Pope has been hospitalized since February 14th with pneumonia and bronchial infections. The candle with a photograph of him is placed under the statue of the late Pope John Paul II of Rome on February 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
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Catholics around the world have prayed for Pope Francis since their first hospitalization in February. This includes Vice President J.D. Vance, who prayed to the Pope at last month's National Prayer Breakfast.
“Every day, me and my children have prayed for the Holy Father. We pray for his health. He will deal with what appears to be a rather serious health crisis, so we pray for his comfort,” Vance said.
