ROME
\nPope Francis, who has been in hospital for more than two weeks with double pneumonia, spent a \u201ccalm night,\u201d the Vatican said on Sunday, after reporting he was in a stable condition.
\n\u201cThe pope is still resting,\u201d the Holy See said in its latest health update on the 88-year-old head of the Catholic Church.
\nOn Saturday evening, it had said the pope\u2019s condition was \u201cstable,\u201d adding that he was still receiving oxygen, had no fever, had been eating, was alert and praying.
\nSunday saw the Argentine, born Jorge Bergoglio, forced to miss giving in person the traditional Angelus prayer for a third straight Sunday.
\nInstead, the Vatican released a written text at noon in which the pontiff thanked believers for their support and prayers.
\n\u201cI would like to thank you for the prayers, which rise up to the Lord from the hearts of so many faithful from many parts of the world. I feel all your affection and closeness and, at this particular time, I feel as if I am \u2018carried\u2019 and supported by all God\u2019s people. Thank you all,\u201d he wrote.
\nThe pope concluded by calling for peace in addressing conflicts around the globe.
\n\u201cI pray above all for peace. From here, war appears even more absurd. Let us pray for tormented Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan and Kivu,\u201d Francis wrote.
\nThe pope\u2019s haemodynamic parameters \u2014 those relating to the flow of blood \u2014 were also stable, and he did not have the high white-blood-cell count that often indicates an infection, the Vatican said, adding that the overall prognosis remained \u201creserved.\u201d
\nFrancis, leader of the world\u2019s almost 1.4 billion Catholics, was admitted to Rome\u2019s Gemelli hospital on February 14 with bronchitis that soon developed into pneumonia in both lungs.
\nLast weekend, the Vatican reported he was in a \u201ccritical\u201d condition, suffering a major respiratory attack and requiring blood transfusions, prompting widespread concern.
\nAfter a series of incremental improvements, there was more alarming news on Friday when the Vatican said Francis \u201cpresented an isolated crisis of bronchospasm which led to an episode of vomiting with inhalation and a sudden worsening of the respiratory picture.\u201d
\n\u201cIt will take doctors 24 to 48 hours to evaluate the impact\u201d of Friday\u2019s breathing crisis, a Vatican source said.
\nAndrea Ungar, professor of geriatrics at the University of Florence, told AFP on Saturday that it appeared vomit had entered the pope\u2019s lungs, which \u201caggravated the pneumonia.\u201d
\nSuch an issue normally required a strengthening of antibiotics, ventilation and respiratory exercises, he said.
\nHe added the pontiff would likely stay in hospital for some time \u2014 \u201cat least 10 days\u201d in the most optimistic scenario.
\nCatholics and other well-wishers around the world have been praying for the liberal reformer who has led the Church for almost 12 years.
\nPilgrims have flocked to the Gemelli hospital, many leaving handwritten messages, including posters illustrated by children, and balloons bearing his image.
\nFrancis has continued to work from the special papal suite on the hospital\u2019s 10th floor, amid speculation about his ability to continue to lead the Church.
\nHe has not been seen in public since the morning of his hospital admission, which is the fourth since 2021 and the longest of his papacy.
\nThe Jesuit, who had part of one of his lungs removed as a young man, has suffered increasing health problems in recent years.
\nIn 2021, he underwent colon surgery. Two years later, he had a hernia operation. He is also prone to bronchitis and suffers from hip and knee pain which has made him reliant on a wheelchair.
\nFrancis has always left open the option of resigning if his health declined, following the example set by his predecessor, German theologian Benedict XVI, who quit in 2013.
\nBefore his hospitalization, Francis had repeatedly said it was not yet the time \u2014 and may never be.
\nYet medical experts have warned that Francis\u2019s age and health means a sustained recovery will take time.
\nFrancis maintains a packed schedule, particularly with the Church celebrating a Jubilee holy year this year, an event predicted to draw tens of millions of pilgrims to Rome and the Vatican.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ROME Pope Francis, who has been in hospital for more than two weeks with double pneumonia, spent a \u201ccalm night,\u201d the Vatican said on Sunday, after reporting he was in a stable condition. \u201cThe pope is still resting,\u201d the Holy See said in its latest health update on the 88-year-old head of the Catholic Church. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":464843,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-464815","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n