After a little more than three weeks in the hospital, Pope Francis' health has improved slightly. However, it is not yet possible to say whether this is a sustainable improvement.
According to official information, Pope Francis is a little better. “The clinical condition of the Holy Father has remained stable in the past few days and thus shows a good response to the therapy,” said the Vatican in a medical bulletin. There was a “gradual, slight improvement”. The Pope still has no fever, and the blood values are also stable.
The 88-year-old suffers from severe pneumonia that has covered both lungs. The head of the Catholic Church in the Gemelli Clinic in Rome has been treated since mid-February. Francis had to breathe of breath several times, which is why he had to be ventilated again and again with an oxygen mask. He also received additional oxygen from a hose in his nose.
Forecast remains reserved
With a forecast for the further course, the doctors continued. The doctors first wanted to wait and see whether the initial improvements were continued in the next few days. In the past, too, there was already an improvement in Bulletins, but this was followed by setbacks again.
Francis has not been shown to the public since he was admitted to the hospital. However, he thanked an audio message for the many prayers. His voice looked very weak. The Sunday prayer in front of tens of thousands of believers on St. Peter's Square for the fourth time in a row.
Shortly before the official anniversary
Francis has been head of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide since March 2013. On Thursday it was exactly twelve years ago that he was the successor to the German Pope Benedict XVI. was chosen. At the age of 88, the native Argentine is now the second oldest pontiff in the history of the Catholic Church.
