A day after announcing a minor improvement in his condition, the Vatican said Thursday that Pope Francis “got up and had breakfast in his armchair” after spending another restful night in the hospital.
After being hospitalized to the Gemelli hospital in Rome last Friday with bronchitis, the 88-year-old’s condition progressed to pneumonia in both lungs, causing significant concern.
The Vatican announced in an update Wednesday night that the pope’s health parameters were stable and that his blood tests had revealed a “slight improvement”.
He had enough energy to receive Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for a 20-minute visit.
The far-right leader said in a statement afterwards she found him “alert and responsive”.
“We joked as always. He hasn’t lost his proverbial sense of humour,” she said.
The double pneumonia diagnosis comes after the pope has suffered a series of issues in recent years, from colon and hernia surgery to problems walking.
The Vatican has been issuing regular updates, however banal, in a bid to counter widespread speculation particularly online that he is dying or even dead.
In Wednesday evening’s statement, it said the pope had also done some work with colleagues.
“The blood tests, evaluated by the medical staff, show a slight improvement, particularly in inflammatory indices,” it said.
Following breakfast, he “dedicated himself to work activities with his closest collaborators”, it added.
A Vatican source had on Wednesday said the pope was “breathing on his own. His heart is holding up very well”.
*
Email *
Website
