Pope Francis was no longer using a mechanical ventilator and remained stable in the hospital on Sunday, though his clinical prognosis remains “guarded,” the Vatican said in a statement as the 88-year-old recovers from double pneumonia.
The Vatican confirmed that Francis attended Mass with those taking care of him at Gemelli hospital, alternating between rest and prayer. The pontiff also met with Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and the substitute Secretary of State Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, though the Vatican said these meetings happen weekly to discuss regular church matters and are not a sign of health.
“The clinical conditions of the Holy Father have remained stable even today; the Pope did not need non-invasive mechanical ventilation, but only high-flow oxygen therapy; he has no fever,” the Vatican’s statement said.
The Vatican also said Francis had no lingering problems caused by a breathing crisis that happened Friday. His white blood cell levels remained low, indicating no signs of infection.
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Pope Francis waves from the central loggia of St. Peter’s basilica during the Easter ‘Urbi et Orbi’ message and blessing to the City and the World as part of the Holy Week celebrations, in the Vatican on March 31, 2024. (Tiziana Fabi/Pool/AFP/Getty)
Francis gave his Sunday blessing in written form as he remains in the hospital, where the Vatican earlier confirmed he is “still resting following a peaceful night.”
Francis addressed the faithful in the blessing, writing, “I am still sending you these thoughts from the hospital,” where he has been receiving treatment since Feb. 14 after a bout of bronchitis worsened and turned into a complex pneumonia in both lungs.
“I feel in my heart the ‘blessing’ that is hidden within frailty, because it is precisely in these moments that we learn even more to trust in the Lord; at the same time, I thank God for giving me the opportunity to share in body and spirit the condition of so many sick and suffering people,” the pontiff wrote.
“I 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 ‘carried’ and supported by all God’s people,” Francis continued.
Nuns pray for Pope Francis in front of the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic, where the Pontiff has been hospitalized since Feb.14, in Rome, Saturday, on March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Francis concluded the blessing by writing that he would pray for the faithful and for peace, adding that in his current condition the wars of the world seemed meaningless.
“From here, war appears even more absurd. Let us pray for tormented Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan and Kivu,” he wrote.
The Vatican said Saturday that Francis’ medical condition “remained stable with respiratory physiotherapy alternating between non-invasive mechanical ventilation and long periods of supplemental high-flow oxygenation with a good response to gas exchange.”
He had no fever or signs of elevated white blood cells, which would signal his body was still fighting an infection.
Doctors on Saturday reported that Francis was in stable condition, with no mention of him being critical, and signaled once again continued improvement. Their upbeat assessment came a day after a respiratory crisis that resulted in him being put on noninvasive mechanical ventilation.
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Doctors were cautious, however, and kept his prognosis as guarded – meaning he wasn’t out of danger. He was eating and drinking and continued his respiratory physiotherapy, and spent 20 minutes in his private chapel down the hall on Saturday, the Vatican said.
The 88-year-old pope had a “good response” in his gas exchange levels even during the “long periods” he was off the ventilator mask and only using high-flow supplemental oxygen, the Vatican said.
For the third weekend in a row, Francis canceled the appointment to deliver the Angelus prayer at noon on Sunday as he continued his recovery.
The pope, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, has lung disease and was admitted to Gemelli on Feb. 14 after a bout of bronchitis worsened and turned into a complex pneumonia in both lungs.
A woman takes pictures as it rains in St Peter’s Square at The Vatican, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Francis’ hospitalization has come as the Vatican is marking its Holy Year, drawing pilgrims to Rome from all over. They are walking through the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica and also making pilgrimages to the hilltop Umbrian town of Assisi, to pray at the home of Francis’ namesake, St. Francis.
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Francis was supposed to have presided Saturday over a Holy Year audience in the Vatican’s auditorium for the staff of the Gemelli hospital and other healthcare workers. They came as planned and completed the pilgrimage, while Francis continued his recovery at the hospital.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
