Pope Francis is facing a serious health challenge as he continues to recover from pneumonia. The Vatican announced that the 88-year-old pontiff experienced two acute respiratory failures on Monday, requiring separate bronchoscopies to help clear mucus and relieve bronchospasm. These incidents occurred on the 18th day of his hospitalization, marking the longest stay in the hospital during his papacy.
Pope Francis, who was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on February 14 with bronchitis that developed into pneumonia, is now being treated with “non-invasive mechanical ventilation” through an oxygen mask. The Vatican reports that his condition remains “reserved,” meaning that doctors are unable to predict the outcome of his illness.
Despite these health challenges, the pope remains alert, focused, and cooperative with his treatment. On Sunday, he was able to participate in mass and engage in prayer, although he missed his usual Angelus prayer for the third consecutive Sunday.
This situation has drawn global attention, as Pope Francis’ health is a significant concern for the nearly 1.4 billion Catholics around the world.
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