Pope Francis’s health has taken a positive turn, with doctors upgrading his prognosis and stating he isn’t any longer in immediate danger of death following a bout of double pneumonia.
The 88-year-old pontiff has been hospitalised for nearly a month, marking the longest and most serious health scare of his 12-year papacy.
While the Pope’s condition stays stable and he has shown improvement in recent days, doctors are proceeding with caution.
He will remain hospitalised for several more days to proceed treatment and start rehabilitation.
However, blood tests and his positive response to treatment have encouraged medical staff.
Francis, who suffers from chronic lung disease, continues to require supplemental oxygen throughout the day and uses a ventilation mask at night to help his respiration.
He has been waking later than usual during his stay at Gemelli hospital, around 8am, in comparison with his typical 4:30am rising time on the Vatican.
Doctors lifted their “guarded” prognosis late Monday, indicating they now not imagine the respiratory infection that led to his hospitalisation on February 14 poses a right away threat.
However, given the Pope’s age and overall health, doctors remain vigilant about potential complications.
“In view of the complexity of the clinical picture and the vital infectious picture presented on admission, it’s going to be needed to proceed medical drug therapy in a hospital setting for added days,” a Vatican statement said.
In an indication of his improved health, Francis followed the Vatican’s weeklong spiritual retreat via videoconference on Monday in each the morning and afternoon sessions, something he was prone to proceed to do through the week.
The retreat, an annual gathering that kicks off the Catholic Church’s solemn Lenten season resulting in Easter, continues through Friday. The Vatican has said Francis would participate “in spiritual communion” with the remaining of the hierarchy, from afar.
Francis could see and listen to the Reverend Roberto Pasolini, preacher of the papal household, however the priests, bishops, cardinals and nuns gathered for the retreat within the Vatican auditorium couldn’t see or hear him.
The Pope, who had a part of one lung removed as a young man, had what was just a nasty case of bronchitis when he was hospitalised in February. The infection progressed into a fancy respiratory tract infection and double pneumonia that has sidelined Francis and raised questions on the longer term.
He was still keeping his eye on things, nevertheless. The Vatican said he had been informed in regards to the floods in his native Argentina, sent a telegram of condolences and expressed his closeness to the affected population.
