Gina Heslop
Pope Francis has been in the hospital for ten days, battling pneumonia in both lungs. On Monday, the Vatican reported that while his condition remained critical, there were slight improvements.
His lab tests showed better results, and he resumed some work, including a phone call to a parish in Gaza City. The Pope had not spoken to them recently due to his illness but called to thank them for a video message they had sent.
The Vatican’s evening update was more positive than previous days. Doctors reported no new respiratory crises since Saturday, and his oxygen support had been slightly reduced. A mild kidney issue detected earlier was not causing concern, though his overall prognosis remained uncertain.
Earlier in the day, the Vatican invited people to St. Peter’s Square for nighttime prayers for the Pope’s health. Cardinal Pietro Parolin was set to lead the first service that evening.
Despite his serious condition, Pope Francis was awake, in good spirits, and not in pain. He had slept well the night before and was getting rest.
At Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he has been hospitalized since February 14, an emotional Mass was held in the chapel dedicated to Pope John Paul II.
About 200 people attended, including doctors and hospital staff. Some knelt in prayer, deeply moved by the situation. Outside the hospital, people left candles, flowers, and a portrait of the Pope.
Doctors warned that his condition remains serious due to his age, frailty, and past lung issues. The main risk is sepsis, a severe blood infection, though no signs of it have been reported.
This hospitalization is now the longest of his papacy, matching his 10-day stay in 2021 after colon surgery.
In New York, Cardinal Timothy Dolan acknowledged the Pope’s fragile condition, calling it a moment when Catholics were united “at the bedside of a dying father.”
Though he expressed hope for the Pope’s recovery, speculation continues about what may happen if Francis becomes too weak to lead the Church. For now, he remains in the hospital, fighting his illness while the world prays for him.
