Pope Francis is no longer in immediate danger from double pneumonia as his respiratory health is improving after spending over three weeks in Rome’s Gemelli University Hospital, the Vatican announced Monday evening.
The update marks significant improvement after Pope Francis underwent a serious health setback, in which he suffered an episode of bronchospasm over a week ago. The 88-year-old pontiff will remain hospitalized for the time being and receive further treatment. It remains unclear when he will be discharged from the hospital.
The pope’s doctors lifted their previous “guarded” prognosis, which remained in place due to a respiratory infection in both of his lungs. He was in critical condition before the latest medical update.
“The improvements recorded in previous days have further consolidated, as confirmed by both blood tests and clinical assessments, as well as a good response to his drug treatments,” the Vatican said.
The supreme pontiff of the Catholic Church was admitted to the hospital on February 14 after having difficulty breathing. Solid foods were reintroduced into his diet on Sunday.
Pope Francis was expected to die in recent days as he battled several respiratory illnesses, but that no longer appears to be the case. The extended hospital stay comes before Thursday’s twelfth anniversary of his 2013 election as pope, marking the longest absence of his papacy.
The pontiff’s recent health scares have been met with prayer vigils from Catholics around the world. Among them was Vice President JD Vance, who led a prayer for the religious leader at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., on February 28.
Vance has been criticized by Francis and American bishops over the Trump administration’s strict immigration policies, which the Catholic leaders deemed inhumane and cruel for deporting illegal immigrants out of the U.S. Border czar Tom Homan, a lifelong Catholic, in return, criticized the pope for weighing on border enforcement when he should be focused on the Catholic Church.
Doctors remain cautious about the pope’s health, considering he had part of his lung removed in his younger years and had been previously hospitalized for a respiratory infection and colon surgery.
Despite being confined to a hospital bed, Pope Francis has remained relatively active in his religious duties. On Sunday, he held his third meeting with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s second-ranking official and Parolin’s deputy, while still recovering. He has also reportedly been actively praying and worshipping when he is able.