A chest X-ray that Pope Francis underwent on Tuesday afternoon showed a double-sided pneumonia that requires "further medication", writes the Vatican in a statement.
It was already known that the Pope will remain in hospital, which has triggered prayers from believers and supporters around the world. The concern is heightened because the 88-year-old is known as a workaholic and has previously downplayed his health issues.
On Monday evening, the Vatican announced that the Pope is fever-free, but must remain hospitalized for treatment at Gemelli Hospital in Rome. The respiratory infection he has been treated for so far has presented a "complex clinical picture", it was stated.
Lacking part of lung
Francis' sensitivity to bronchitis and other respiratory problems is great, not least because he is missing part of one lung after an infection that nearly cost him his life in the 1950s in his home country of Argentina.
Moreover, his dedication to duty is almost notorious. When the Pope was treated at Gemelli in 2023 for three days due to pneumonia, he only acknowledged afterwards how bad it was – that he had been admitted to hospital urgently due to severe chest pains, reports news agency AP.
And when he fell ill this time, Vatican media writes that Francis did not want to cancel the morning audience on Friday, despite barely being able to speak. Only when the audience was over did he agree to be taken to hospital.
Called the congregation in Gaza
He was then able to call the congregation in Gaza during the weekend, which he has tried to do every day since the outbreak of war there.
We heard his voice. He certainly sounds tired, said priest Gabriel Romanelli in Gaza to Vatican News.
He said himself that "I need to take care of myself". But his voice was clear and he listened to us.
The hope is now that the recovery will be facilitated by the Pope's relatively empty schedule in the near future. The next major activity is in connection with Ash Wednesday, which falls in two weeks, on March 5.
