Pope Francis stable, continues respiratory therapy at Gemelli: ‘Mood is good, collaborates with doctors’

The Pontiff has had no further respiratory crisis and is spending the day between work and rest. The prognosis remains reserved, while treatment for pneumonia continues

Pope Francis continues his recovery at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome, where he has been hospitalised since 14 February due to pneumonia. According to the Holy See, the Pontiff’s state of health is ‘stationary’ and no further respiratory crises have been recorded. The Pope spent today, Wednesday 5 March, alternating between work and rest, maintaining a positive mood.

The medical bulletin noted that the Pope devoted part of the afternoon to ‘active respiratory and motor physiotherapy’, with the aim of improving his physical condition, despite his well-known motor difficulties. ‘One should not think about long walks,’ the Vatican specified, but Francis kept active as much as possible.

During the day, the Holy Father continued to work on appointments, texts and answered letters and messages. In addition, he participated in the rite of blessing of the Holy Ashes, receiving the Eucharist in his private flat on the tenth floor of the hospital.

On the subject of treatment, the bulletin specified that Pope Francis underwent oxygen therapy at high flows during the day and that non-invasive mechanical ventilation will be resumed during the night. Despite the progress, the prognosis remains reserved due to the complexity of the clinical picture. ‘For a full assessment, time is still needed,’ the Holy See said.

A sign of recovery also came from the phone call the Pope made in the morning to Father Gabriel Romanelli, parish priest of the Holy Family in Gaza, showing that the Pontiff ‘can speak’.

No date has yet been set for a possible press point with the doctors who are following the Pontiff, although Vatican sources say that the doctors are waiting to evaluate some aspects of the ongoing therapies.

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