Pope remains in good spirits and grateful for the prayers and well-wishes from people around the world.
Pope remains in good spirits and grateful for the prayers and well-wishes from people around the world. Image: NBC News
(The Post News)- Pope Francis spent a quiet night at the hospital and had breakfast early in the morning, according to a Vatican statement. The 88-year-old pope continues to undergo treatment after he was diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia, a serious infection of the lungs.
The Vatican had already put the Pope’s weekend schedule on hold due to his health. Pope Francis, the Catholic Church head since 2013, has been facing increasing health problems in recent years. He had pleurisy when he was a young man and had one lung partially removed. His hospitalization since Friday at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital follows treatment for bronchitis, which, if left untreated, can develop into pneumonia.
In a update, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni confirmed that the Pope remains in good spirits and is grateful for the prayers and good wishes of people worldwide. Francis has been reading newspapers and conducting some work from his hospital bed despite his illness, reports said.
Clinical examinations, such as X-rays, continue to offer a “complicated picture” of his health, according to the Vatican. The Holy See Press Office detailed that the Pope’s condition is an infection of polymicrobial nature against the background of bronchiectasis and asthmatic bronchitis and is being administered corticosteroids and antibiotics in combination. A recent chest CT scan revealed the formation of bilateral pneumonia, and his treatment was adjusted accordingly.
The Pope spent a quiet night, slept, and breakfasted,” the Vatican stated in a Wednesday morning statement. It added that he has received the Eucharist and spends the day alternating between rest, prayer, and reading.Pilgrims to the Vatican have been praying for his quick recovery. No official word, however, on how long the Pope will be hospitalized, with the Vatican stating his treatment requires an “adequate” stay.
While concern for the Pope’s health grows, his strength continues to inspire Catholics worldwide. The Vatican has assured the faithful that it will release updates as his treatment proceeds.
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