Hannah Brockhouse
Vatican City, February 19, 2025 / 14:20 pm
Pope Francis’ health remained stable as he continues to stay in the hospital, but recent blood tests have shown “slight improvements.”
According to a communication on February 19, medical staff found that the Pope’s blood tests had fewer inflammatory markers. They said his clinical condition was “quiescence.”
Francis, 88, who has been undergoing treatment for multimicrobial respiratory infections at Gemeri Hospital since Friday, received an additional diagnosis of dual pneumonia on February 18th.
The Vatican said Wednesday that Pope Francis had breakfast, read several newspapers and worked with the help of his secretary. Before lunch, the clergy received the Eucharist, and in the afternoon he visited for 20 minutes by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Meloni hoped that the pope would recover quickly, on behalf of the Italian government and the nation.
The Italian prime minister said he felt Francis was “highly responsive with alerts.”
“We joked as usual. He hasn’t lost his legendary sense of humor,” Meloni added.
Vatican sources said Wednesday morning Pope Francis doesn’t need supplemental oxygen.
The Vatican said Francis is undergoing cortisone antibiotic therapy to treat “complex” medical situations, but he is asking him to continue praying that he is “welling well.”
Hannah Brockhouse is a senior Vatican correspondent at the Catholic News Agency. After growing up in Omaha, Nebraska, she earned her English degree from Truman State University in Missouri. In 2016, she moved to Rome, Italy. There, I enjoy reading and going on adventures with my husband and son in my spare time.
