ROME (AP) – Pope Francis remains stable and no mechanical ventilation was required on Sunday, the Vatican said. It was a sign that he had overcome possible complications from Friday’s respiratory crisis, and that his respiratory function was improving overall as he recovered from pneumonia.
The 88-year-old Pope continued to receive high-flow supplemental oxygen after Friday’s cough episode. This caused the fear of new lung infections. Doctors said in an update at the end of Sunday that Francis remains stable but once again referred to the complexity of his overall condition and warned him about his prognosis.
Francis, who had been in the hospital since February 14th, rested and prayed and attended Mass in the private chapel after a morning visit from the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin and his Chief of Staff, Edgar Pena Para. The content of their talks is unknown, but even at the Vatican, Francis meets them at least every week.
He again skipped the noon blessing every week to avoid a brief public appearance from the hospital. Instead, the Vatican distributed a message written by the Pope from the Gemeri Hospital. There he often thanked his wife for their care and prayers to the doctors, and prayed again for peace in Ukraine and elsewhere.
“From here on, the war seems even more ridiculous,” Francis said in a message. Francis said he lived in his hospitalization as an experience of deep solidarity with people suffering from illness everywhere.
“In my mind I feel the “blessing” hidden in my weakness. Because it is precisely at this very moment that we learn more to trust in the Lord,” Francis said in the text. “At the same time, I thank God for giving me the opportunity to share the body and mind of so many illnesses and suffering people.”
The sign refers to recovery
Many signs showed he was improving, especially after the breathing crisis on Friday afternoon. The doctor inhaled the vomit and placed him in non-invasive mechanical ventilation. This is a mask that pumps oxygen into the lungs.
He used ventilation on Saturday, alternating with supplemental oxygen alone, and by Sunday he no longer needed it.
Doctors also reported that he had no fever or increased white blood cell levels. This would indicate that his body is fighting a new infection. Doctors said it was necessary 24-48 hours after Friday’s cough episode to determine if it had a negative effect on Francis’ overall condition. Time passed and positive reports on Sunday suggested he managed to overcome the episode.
The Pope, who removed a portion of one lung as a young man, suffered from lung disease and was found by Gemeri on February 14th, causing the bronchiitis match to worsen and transformed into complex pneumonia in both lungs.
The prayers continued to pour
Francis’ hospitalization marks the Holy Year by the Vatican, welcoming pilgrims all the way to Rome. Many people add pilgrimage destinations to their itineraries, so you can pray for Francis at Jemeri Hospital, which is about 20 minutes’ drive from the Vatican and about 20 minutes’ drive by rush hour or public transport.
Rev. Ricardo Humagali would have attended the prayer of Francis Angelus at St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, if he accompanied a group of young people from Milan to Rome for the Jubilee and delivered as usual. Instead, they went to Jemeri.
“It was good for us to be here to express the intimacy of these teenagers, especially to pray for him, to be close to our holy father to pray for this sick moment,” he said.
Cancer patient Antonino Cacas also arrived on Sunday from Milan in Gemeri for his own treatment, saying he had to undergo surgery in the next few days and had relied on Francis’ prayers.
“I’m glad the Pope has given me help,” he said. I want to see him and see him,” he said.
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