Pope Francis spent a peaceful night in the hospital, the Vatican confirmed on Sunday, adding that the 88-year-old pontiff is responding well to treatment for pneumonia. In a brief morning update, the Vatican stated, “The night was calm, the pope is resting.” Francis has been staying in a special papal suite at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital since February 14.
The head of the Catholic Church has experienced several respiratory issues since his admission, but these have subsided in recent days, with his condition now described as “stable.” On Saturday, the Vatican reported that Francis was showing a “gradual, slight improvement” in response to treatment.
Although the pope does not have a fever, his doctors are awaiting consistent positive results “in the coming days” before providing a prognosis, according to an evening medical bulletin.
Francis has faced multiple health challenges in recent years, including colon surgery in 2021 and a hernia operation in 2023. However, this hospitalization marks the longest and most serious of his papacy.
As the spiritual leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, Francis has previously appeared on a balcony at Gemelli Hospital to deliver his weekly Sunday Angelus prayer during past stays. However, he has missed the last three Angelus prayers and is expected to skip his fourth this Sunday. The Vatican press office announced on Saturday that the Angelus would be shared “in the same way” as in recent weeks, published as a letter at noon.
