After 15 Days Of Treatment, Pope Francis' Condition Begins To Improve

Pope Francis received the Grand Imam of the Istiqlal Mosque Nasaruddin Umar in the courtyard of the Istiqal Mosque, Thursday 5 September 2024 (Indonesia Papal Visit Committee)

JAKARTA - Pope Francis was able to pass Saturday night in a stable condition and no longer experience worsening conditions despite having experienced previous bronospasme attacks, the Vatican said in a statement regarding the condition of the spiritual leader of the world Catholic and the 88-year-old Vatican head of state.

Pope Francis has entered his 15th day of treatment at Rome's Gemelli Hospital due to severe bronchitis he experienced in early February 2025 and was later diagnosed with pneumonia.

"The Holy Father's clinical condition is stable. He took turns receiving non-invasive mechanical breathing apparatus and long-term additional high-flux oxygen," the Vatican statement said.

The statement also stated that the Pope's hemodynamic condition remained stable. Pope Francis continues to get food intake and actively participates in breathing physiotherapy on a regular basis, and he "no longer suffers from bronospasme attacks."

"Today, the Pope prayed in the chapel near his treatment room for about 20 minutes," the Vatican statement said.

Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected successor to Pope Benedict XVI at the age of 76 on March 13, 2013, and chose "Fransiskus" as his papal name.

Pope Francis will be treated at Gemelli Hospital for the first time in 2021 for colon surgery.

The spiritual leader of the world's Catholics who now has to use a wheelchair because of pain in his leg was also treated twice in 2023 due to shortness of breath and to carry out prosthetic installation operations on the walls of his stomach.

Pope Francis' timeline

Pope Francis has been hospitalized since February 14 due to double pneumonia. On February 18th. The Vatican stated that the Pope had bilateral pneumonia and his clinical condition worsened.

The statement, which was released on February 21, stated that a team of doctors concluded that Pope Francis' life was not threatened, although it had not yet been completely removed from danger.

But the next day, the Pope's condition was reportedly critical again after suffering from asthma.

On February 24, the Vatican stated that the Pope's condition improved slightly even though he was still in critical condition. On February 25, the Pope's condition was still critical but stable.

The Pope's condition was reported to have improved by the Vatican on February 26 and 27.

In a statement on Friday (28/2), the Vatican explained that the Pope suffered a bronkospasme attack and a mechanical breathing apparatus had to be attached to him to ensure respiratory circulation -- oxygen input and carbon dioxide output -- remained good.

The Pope reportedly responded positively to the treatment.