Pope Francis is resting and doing okay as he recovers from double pneumonia. He missed his regular Sunday blessing again because he’s still not strong enough to appear in public. This is the third weekend in a row he has skipped delivering the Angelus prayer. The Vatican planned to share his prepared message instead.
Doctors said the Pope had a quiet night in the hospital and showed signs of improvement, even though he had a hard time breathing before and needed help with oxygen. He is 88 years old and has had lung issues for a long time, having had part of his lung removed when he was younger. He went to the hospital on February 14 due to worsening bronchitis that turned into pneumonia in both lungs.
The good news is that he can now breathe without the ventilator for long periods and his body is responding better, which is a sign that his health is improving. Doctors still advised caution, so he isn’t completely out of danger yet. He is eating, drinking, and doing breathing exercises, and even spent some time in his private chapel.
Many people are praying for Pope Francis as the Vatican celebrates a special Holy Year, bringing many pilgrims to Rome. They walk through the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica and pray in Assisi, the town named after his saintly namesake, St. Francis. People visiting from different places, like Rev. Jacinto Bento from the Azores Islands, expressed their sadness over the Pope’s health.
In a twist of fate, Pope Francis was supposed to meet hospital staff for a special audience, but he had to stay in the hospital. Monsignor Claudio Giuliodori, of the Catholic University connected to the hospital, said they understood and continued to pray for him.
At the Gemelli hospital, the atmosphere is better, with shared feelings of hope and support for the Pope.
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