Pope Francis responds well to treatment and has shown a “gradual and light improvement” in recent days, the Vatican announced on Saturday, because he remains in the hospital with double pneumonia.
The 88 -year -old pope, who suffers from a chronic pulmonary disease and was part of a lung removed as a young man, remained stable, without a fever and a good level of oxygen in his blood for several days, doctors reported in the Vatican declaration. However, they said that his prognosis was kept, which means that he is not yet out of danger.
Doctors said that such stability “accordingly testifies to a good response to therapy”. This is the first time that doctors have reported that Francis has responded positively to the treatment of the complex pulmonary infection that was diagnosed after being hospitalized on February 14.
The pontiff worked and rested on the day of the day, when he entered his fourth week at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome with his stabilized state after a few crises of acute respiratory crises last week.
“In order to also record these initial improvements in the coming days, his doctors have cautiously maintained the prognosis as guarded,” the statement said.
Francis used high additional oxygen flows to help him breathe during the day and a non -invasive mechanical ventilation mask at night.
Thursday evening, Francis’ voice was heard by the public for the first time Since he was admitted to the hospital. The message, recorded from the Pope’s room at the Polyclinic Hospital of Gemelli in Rome, was played with those who prayed for him on Saint-Pierre square in the Vatican.
“Thank you from the bottom of your heart for your prayers for my health since the place,” he said in the message.
The fact that Francis was able to speak to record the message was an encouraging sign, but his fragility could be heard in the recording. Francis’ voice seemed weak and breathless.
