Vatican Says Pope Francis Is Stable And Back To Work

JAKARTA - Vatican authorities say Pope Francis is in stable condition throughout Wednesday and has not experienced a new respiratory crisis.

The Pope, 88, who has been battling double pneumonia for nearly three weeks, is undergoing treatment at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, Italy.

In a relatively optimistic health bulletin, the Vatican said the Pope had done several jobs and had spent most of the day in armchairs.

It is known, the last time the Vatican has stated that the Pope has been able to work is on February 27

However, the doctor who treated him emphasized that his prognosis was "guarded", meaning he had not yet come out of danger.

The Vatican also said Pope Francis was reconnected into non-invasive mechanical ventilation overnight after being released during the day, underscoring his ongoing difficulties in eliminating the dangerous disease.

When he doesn't use a mechanical ventilator, which pushes the air into his lungs and doesn't require patients to be stunned, the Pope accepts a high flow of oxygen through a small nose tube under his nose.

For the first time since February 24, the Vatican says the Pope has called the Catholic parish in Gaza, which he has frequently fought during the Israel-Hamas war.

Earlier, Pope Francis suffered what the Vatican described as two episodes of "acute breathing insufficiency" on Monday, but has never experienced it again since then.

The Pope has not been seen in public since his hospital admission, his longest absence since his papality began 12 years ago. Doctors have not said how long his treatment will last.

His illness caused him to have missed a number of Church events, including services on Wednesday known as Wednesday Abu, which marked the start of the 40-day period ahead of Easter Sunday which he usually leads.

Instead, Cardinal Angelo De Donatis presided over the service.

"We feel very united with him at this time," Cardinal De Donatis told the congregation at a church in Rome.

"We thank him for offering his prayers and suffering for the good of all churches and the rest of the world," he added.

The Vatican said Pope Francis had also taken part in Wednesday's Abu service in his hospital room.

Pope Francis has suffered several pains over the past two years and is prone to lung infection, as he has a history of previous membrane inflammation and part of his lungs have been removed.

Double pneumonia is a serious infection in both lungs that can inflame and leave scars, making breathing difficult.