Pope Francis shows ‘improvement’ in condition, Vatican reveals - Doctors say the 88-year-old pope has shown a ‘gradual, slight improvement’ in recent days as he recovers from double pneumonia
Friday marks three weeks since Pope Francis was hospitalized for bronchitis, which then led to double pneumonia.
In his absence, the Vatican’s day-to-day operations continued alongside celebrations of its Holy Year, the once-every-quarter-century Jubilee that brings millions of pilgrims to Rome. On Sunday, Canadian Cardinal Michael Czerny, who is close to Francis, celebrates the Holy Year Mass for volunteers that Francis was supposed to have celebrated.
Francis worked and rested during the day on Saturday, as he entered his fourth week at Rome’s Gemelli hospital with his condition stabilised after a few bouts of acute respiratory crises last week.
The 88-year-old pontiff has been hospitalized since Feb. 14 after a bout of bronchitis worsened and turned into a complex pneumonia in both lungs.
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis was resting Wednesday, the start of the solemn Lenten period leading up to Holy Week observances, after sleeping through the night with a ventilation mask as he undergoes hospital treatment for double pneumonia.
Cardinal Blase Cupich, the archbishop of Chicago, and Chicago-born Cardinals Robert Prevost and Wilton Gregory would be part of the papal conclave that elects a new pope. Experts say a selection from the United States is unlikely.