Improving Pope reduces use of ventilation for oxygen, Vatican says
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Tributes to Pope Francis placed at the foot of a statue of the late Pope John Paul II, outside Rome's Gemelli hospital.
PHOTO: REUTERS
VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis is improving slowly as he battles double pneumonia in hospital and is reducing the use of mechanical ventilation at night to help with breathing, the Vatican said on March 15.
“The clinical conditions of the Holy Father have remained stable, confirming the progress seen in the last week,” said the latest update on the 88-year-old pontiff, who was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Feb 14.
Pope Francis, who is prone to lung infections, has not been seen in public since entering hospital, the longest such absence of his papacy which this week reached its 12th anniversary.
He will again miss weekly prayers with pilgrims on March 16, for the fifth week in a row.
The Vatican said the Pope was continuing with medical treatments, respiratory physiotherapy and physical therapy for his mobility. “These therapies, at present, show further, gradual improvements,” said the statement.
He has been receiving oxygen in hospital, including through an oxygen mask at night. “High-flow oxygen therapy continues, gradually reducing the need for non-invasive mechanical ventilation during night-time hours,” the statement added.
The Vatican has not given a timeframe for the Pope’s discharge from hospital, saying his recovery is slow.
It is publishing medical updates every few days now, compared with twice-daily updates previously.
The Pope had pleurisy as a young adult and had part of one lung removed. He is known to work himself to exhaustion, and has continued to work from hospital.
On March 15, the Vatican announced that earlier in the week, Pope Francis had approved a new three-year process to consider reforms for the global Catholic Church, in a sign that he intends to continue as pope, despite his health difficulties. REUTERS
