Vatican Gives Latest Update on Pope Francis' Condition

Pope Francis' medical condition is now stable, and his fever has broken, the Vatican said in a late update on Monday.

The 88-year-old has been hospitalized in Rome since Friday with bronchitis. But this afternoon, his health seems to be on the mend, allowing him to resume reading and some work activities.

The Context

Pope Francis has faced a series of health battles in recent years.

In 2023, he was hospitalized with pneumonia and underwent surgery to repair a hernia later that year. In 2021, he had more than a foot of his large intestine removed due to what the Vatican described as severe inflammation and narrowing of the colon.

As a young man, he had part of one lung removed due to a pulmonary infection. The pope also uses a wheelchair, walker or cane due to his bad knees and sciatica nerve pain. All of this puts him at much higher risk from a bronchitis infection.

"Being older, wheelchair-bound, all those are risk factors for a situation in which we can't treat it despite our best efforts," Dr. Maor Sauler, who specializes in adult pulmonary medicine and critical care at Yale School of Medicine, told the Associated Press.

What Is Bronchitis?

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the air passages that carry air to and from the lungs and can cause coughing, mucus production, wheezing, and shortness of breath. It can be relatively mild in a healthy person but can be much more serious in someone with existing conditions or the elderly.

What To Know

Despite his many health challenges, Francis is a workaholic with a grueling schedule.

On Friday, he insisted on finishing his morning audiences before leaving for the hospital despite being short of breath and struggling to speak. The pope was eventually admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital in "fair" condition after his weeklong bout of bronchitis worsened.

His latest hospitalization has already forced the cancellation of several events, including this week's weekly general audience. His calendar has now been cleared through February.

Doctors confirmed a "complex" respiratory tract infection and prescribed "absolute rest" alongside unspecified drug therapies. Polymicrobial infections involve multiple pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, fungi or parasites, complicating recovery and necessitating close medical supervision.

In Monday's update, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the pope was in stable condition. He added that Francis had eaten breakfast and read the newspapers that morning after a third consecutive "peaceful" night in the hospital. His fever has also subsided.

Pope Francis has also maintained daily video calls with the Catholic Church in Gaza on Friday and Saturday, according to its parish priest, the Reverend Gabriel Romanelli. The pope had also reportedly sent a message on Sunday.

"We heard his voice. It's true, it was more tired," Romanelli told Vatican News. "But we heard his voice clearly and he listened to us."

The pope has reportedly called Romanelli every day since the Israel-Hamas war began in October 2023.

The AP reported that multiple people, including a group of Nigerian nuns, are praying for Pope Francis outside of the hospital in Rome where he is being treated. Several Christian groups in the United States have also called for prayers for the pope.

Pope Francis is said to be "touched" by the support he has received, which includes many messages and drawings.

What People Are Saying

The Vatican said in a statement on Monday: "The Holy Father continues to be afebrile [without fever] and is continuing the prescribed therapy. His clinical conditions are stable. This morning he received the Eucharist and subsequently dedicated himself to some work activities and reading texts."

On Friday, the pope's official X (formerly Twitter) account posted: "Thank you for the affection, prayer and closeness with which you are accompanying me in these days."

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a prayer for Francis on Friday, which read in part: "O God, shepherd and ruler of all the faithful, look favorably on your servant Francis, whom you have set at the head of your Church as her shepherd."

Sister Mary Beatrice Nnenji, praying outside Rome's Gemelli hospital, said that prayers were necessary "because no one is strong enough on their own. With age, also you feel your health and especially with his workload and all the efforts he makes. So if God wants he will go on. Let's hope in God. We cannot go against it, whatever comes."

What Happens Next

Pope Francis will remain in the hospital for an undetermined period as he recovers from his lung infection. Bruni said on Monday morning that the complexity of his condition requires an "appropriate hospital stay."

His February calendar has since been cleared, with his next appointment on March 5, Ash Wednesday.