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The Independent
02-03-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Pope Francis stable after ‘quiet' night, says Vatican
Pope Francis remains in a stable condition, resting at Rome 's Gemelli hospital as he recovers from double pneumonia, the Vatican has said. However, the pontiff again skipped his customary Sunday blessing, forgoing a public appearance for the third consecutive weekend. While the Pope could have delivered the Angelus prayer from his hospital suite, the Vatican opted to distribute the prepared text, prioritising his continued recuperation. This suggests that while stable, Francis is not yet well enough to undertake even brief public engagements. 'The night was quiet, the pope is still resting,' the Vatican said in its Sunday update. 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 a stable condition, with no mention of him being critical, and signalled once again continued improvement. Their upbeat assessment came a day after a respiratory crisis that resulted in him being put on non-invasive mechanical ventilation. The 88-year-old pope though 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. The pope, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, has lung disease and was admitted to Gemelli on 14 February after a bout of bronchitis worsened and turned into a complex pneumonia in both lungs. The fact that Francis was able to use just high-flow oxygen for long periods, without any significant effect on the levels of oxygen in his blood, was a sign his respiratory function was improving. 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. Prayers continue to pour in Francis' hospitalisation has come as the Vatican is marking its Holy Year, drawing pilgrims to Rome. 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. 'Every day we're praying for the pope,' said the Rev Jacinto Bento, a priest visiting Assisi on Saturday with a group of 30 Jubilee pilgrims from the Azores Islands. 'We're very sad for his situation.' In an odd coincidence, 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. 'We thought we would be able to meet him this morning in Paul VI Hall for the Jubilee Catechesis, but he surprised us by coming to us,' said Monsignor Claudio Giuliodori, spiritual guide of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, of which Gemelli is a part. Giovanni Frisullo, a Gemelli neurologist, said the atmosphere at Gemelli was one of tension and prayer. 'There is a situation of waiting but also of hope,' he said.
Boston Globe
02-03-2025
- Health
- Boston Globe
Pope stable and resting in hospital, again skips Sunday noon blessing as he recovers from pneumonia
'The night was quiet, the pope is still resting,' the Vatican said in its Sunday update. 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. The 88-year-old pope though 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. Advertisement 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. The fact that Francis was able to use just high-flow oxygen for long periods, without any significant effect on the levels of oxygen in his blood, was a sign his respiratory function was improving. 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. 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. Advertisement 'Every day we're praying for the pope,' said the Rev. Jacinto Bento, a priest visiting Assisi on Saturday with a group of 30 Jubilee pilgrims from the Azores Islands. 'We're very sad for his situation.' In an odd coincidence, 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. 'We thought we would be able to meet him this morning in Paul VI Hall for the Jubilee Catechesis, but he surprised us by coming to us,' said Monsignor Claudio Giuliodori, spiritual guide of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, of which Gemelli is a part. Giovanni Frisullo, a Gemelli neurologist, said the atmosphere at Gemelli was one of tension and prayer. 'There is a situation of waiting but also of hope,' he said.
Los Angeles Times
01-03-2025
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
Pope Francis is stable a day after a respiratory crisis
ROME — Pope Francis remained in stable condition Saturday a day after a respiratory crisis during his battle with double pneumonia, the Vatican said. He spent long periods of the day off the noninvasive mechanical ventilation he initially needed in a sign that his lung function was improving. Francis had no further episodes of bronchial spasms like the one he suffered Friday, in which he inhaled vomit during a coughing fit. He had no fever and no signs of new infection, was feeding himself solid food and coffee for breakfast, and continued his respiratory physiotherapy, 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 using only high-flow supplemental oxygen. But his prognosis remained guarded, meaning he wasn't out of danger. 'The Holy Father is always vigilant' and aware of what's going on around him, the statement said, adding that he received the Eucharist and spent 20 minutes in prayer in the private chapel down the hall from his 10th floor hospital room. The comparatively positive update came after Francis suffered a setback Friday in his two-week battle against pneumonia. After the bronchial spasm, doctors aspirated the vomit and placed Francis on noninvasive mechanical ventilation, a mask that pumps oxygen into his lungs. Doctors said the episode resulted in a 'sudden worsening of the respiratory picture.' The pope remained conscious and alert at all times and cooperated with the maneuvers to help him recover. The fact that Francis on Saturday was able to use just high-flow oxygen for long periods, without any significant effect on the levels of oxygen in his blood, was a sign his respiratory function was improving. The pope, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, has lung disease and was admitted to Gemelli after a bout of bronchitis worsened and turned into pneumonia in both lungs. Doctors not involved in Francis' care said Friday's episode was particularly alarming given his existing lung disease and overall fragility. Types of noninvasive ventilation include a BiPAP machine, which helps people breathe by pushing air into their lungs. Doctors will often try such a machine for a while to see if the patient's blood gas levels improve so they can avoid the more invasive intubation ventilation and eventually go back to using supplemental oxygen alone. Doctors did not resume referring to Francis being in 'critical condition,' which has been absent from their statements for four days now. But they say he isn't out of danger, given the complexity of his case. Francis' hospitalization has come as the Vatican is marking its Holy Year that is 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. 'Every day we're praying for the pope,' said the Rev. Jacinto Bento, a priest visiting Assisi on Saturday with a group of 30 Jubilee pilgrims from the Azores Islands. 'We're very sad for his situation.' Serena Barbon, visiting Assisi from Treviso on Saturday with her husband and three children, said she hoped that if Francis doesn't make it, the next pope will be just like him. 'He's been very charismatic and we pray for him and that any new pope might also be someone who puts the poor in the center. Because we're all a bit the poor,' she said. In an odd coincidence, 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, walking through the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica, while Francis continued his recovery at the hospital. 'We thought we would be able to meet him this morning in Paul VI Hall for the Jubilee Catechesis, but he surprised us by coming to us,' said Monsignor Claudio Giuliodori, spiritual guide of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, of which Gemelli is a part. Giovanni Frisullo, a Gemelli neurologist, said the atmosphere at Gemelli was one of tension and prayer. 'There is a situation of waiting but also of hope,' he said. Winfield and Dell'Orto write for the Associated Press. Dell'Orto reported from Assisi, Italy. Paolo Santalucia contributed from Rome. AP writer Carla K. Johnson in Washington state contributed to this report.
The Guardian
01-03-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Pope Francis remains in stable condition, a day after respiratory crisis
Pope Francis remains in stable condition a day after a respiratory crisis, and has spent long periods off the noninvasive ventilation he initially needed in a sign that his lung function was improving as he battles double pneumonia. Francis had no further episodes of bronchial spasms, the Vatican said in its late update on Saturday. He had no fever and no signs of new infection, was feeding himself and continued his respiratory physiotherapy, the Vatican said. The 88-year-old pope had a good response in his blood gas levels even during the 'long periods' he was off the ventilator mask and only using high-flow supplemental oxygen. But his prognosis remained guarded, meaning he wasn't out of danger. 'The Holy Father is always vigilant' and aware of what's going on around him, the statement said, adding that he received the Eucharist and spent time in prayer. The comparatively positive update came after Francis suffered a setback Friday in his two-week battle against pneumonia. Francis had a coughing fit in which he also inhaled vomit. Doctors aspirated the vomit and placed Francis on noninvasive mechanical ventilation, a mask that pumps oxygen into his lungs. Doctors said episode resulted in a 'sudden worsening of the respiratory picture.' The pope remained conscious and alert at all times and cooperated with the manoeuvres to help him recover. The fact that Francis on Saturday was able to use just high-flow oxygen for long periods, without any significant effect on the levels of oxygen in his blood, was a sign his respiratory function was improving. The pope, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, has lung disease and was admitted to Gemelli after a bout of bronchitis worsened and turned into pneumonia in both lungs. The Vatican said the episode was different from the prolonged respiratory crisis on 22 February, that was said to have caused Francis discomfort. Doctors not involved in Francis' care said it was particularly alarming given his existing lung disease and fragility. Types of noninvasive ventilation include a BiPAP machine, which helps people breathe by pushing air into their lungs. Doctors will often try such a machine for a while to see if the patient's blood gas levels improve so they can eventually go back to using oxygen alone. Friday's statement said Francis showed a 'good response' to the gas exchange using the mechanical ventilation. Doctors did not resume referring to Francis being in 'critical condition', which has been absent from their statements for four days now. But they say he isn't out of danger, given the complexity of his case. It comes as the Vatican is marking its Holy Year that is 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, Saint Francis. 'Every day we're praying for the pope,' said the Rev Jacinto Bento, a priest visiting Assisi on Saturday with a group of 30 Jubilee pilgrims from the Azores Islands. 'We're very sad for his situation.'
South China Morning Post
18-02-2025
- South China Morning Post
What you need to know if you're going to Italy on holiday in 2025
If you are planning a trip to Italy this year, remember it is Jubilee Year, a religious event that is held once every 25 years. Because it is a special event, it is expected to draw an estimated 25 million visitors to participate in Rome's religious rites and celebrations, with 90 per cent occupancy rates in hotels. Travellers who do not buy advance tickets for attractions may be disappointed. What is the 2025 Jubilee Year? The Jubilee Year is a religious holiday celebrated by Catholics. During the year, a whole calendar of events in Rome and at the Vatican promise times for papal masses and audiences, pilgrimages to sites in Rome including the Holy Stairs and St Peter's Basilica. Jubilee Year started when Pope Francis (above) opened the Holy Door in St Peter's Basilica, in Vatican City, on December 24, 2024. Photo: TNS It began on December 24, 2024, when Pope Francis opened the Holy Door in St Peter's Basilica, through which 32 million pilgrims are expected to pass this year. 'During the 2025 Jubilee Year, travellers should expect an influx of religious pilgrims, with an estimated 20 per cent to 30 per cent increase in visitors to the Vatican and other key religious sites in Rome. To avoid the busiest times, it's best to visit the major attractions early in the morning or later in the afternoon,' says Raffaele Di Santo, regional manager for Italy at Daytrip, a platform that provides vehicle hire with drivers for international tourists. 'Remember that the Jubilee is not just a tourist event; it's a deeply religious time, so respect for local customs, especially around sacred sites, is crucial,' he adds. The city's metro will experience 15 per cent to 20 per cent more passengers, and hotels are likely to charge higher prices and require much more time in advance to book. Christian and Catholic holidays will be especially busy times to visit Rome, with papal masses at Easter expected to draw crowds of one to two million.
