Pope Francis was in stable condition, relying on supplemental oxygen for breathing after experiencing respiratory issues the previous day. However, he is set to resume using a ventilation mask at night to aid his recovery, the Vatican said on Tuesday.
Throughout the day, the Pope engaged in prayer, rest, and respiratory physiotherapy to combat double pneumonia, with no additional respiratory complications reported in the Vatican’s latest bulletin.
The elderly pontiff, aged 88 and living with chronic lung disease and partial lung removal from his youth, experienced two concerning respiratory episodes Monday, indicating a slowdown in his recovery process.
Medical professionals confirmed his condition as stable whilst maintaining a guarded prognosis, indicating ongoing risk. They planned to reimplement nocturnal mask ventilation Tuesday night, delivering oxygen through a nose-and-mouth covering device.
The medical team successfully removed substantial mucus accumulation from his lungs. Following overnight use of a noninvasive ventilation mask, his condition improved sufficiently by Tuesday morning to switch to high-flow oxygen delivery via nasal cannula.
Prior to his Gemelli hospital admission, where he occupies a dedicated papal suite on the tenth floor, the Pope exhibited breathing difficulties and struggled with text reading.
“At 88 years old, being in the hospital for two weeks and having repeated episodes of respiratory discomfort is a very bad sign,” stated Bruno Crestani, pulmonology department head at Bichat hospital in Paris, to AFP.
On February 22, he experienced a “prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis”, followed by “an isolated crisis of bronchospasm” on February 28.
Pope Francis has faced multiple health challenges in recent years, undergoing colon surgery in 2021 and a hernia operation in 2023. He now relies on a wheelchair due to ongoing hip and knee issues.
(With input from agencies)