Vatican: Pope Francis Still Needs Medical Treatment, Therapy-therapy Show Progress

Pope Francis/DOK via Instagram @franciscus

JAKARTA - Pope Francis is still recovering at a hospital in Rome. The Vatican stated on Saturday, March 15 yesterday that Francis was in a stabi condition.

They also note that 'high flow oxygen therapy continues' progressively reducing the need for non-invasive mechanical ventilation at night.

"The Holy Father still needs medical treatment at the hospital, as well as physiotherapy and respiratory physiotherapy. These therapies are currently showing further and gradual progress," the Vatican said as quoted by Anadolu, Sunday, March 16.

Francis, who is a spiritual leader of Catholics as well as the head of state of the Vatican, was unable to address two public events on February 9 and 12, indicating that he has bronchitis and difficulty breathing. He then asked his aides to read his speech text.

On February 14, Pope Francis was hospitalized at Gemelli Hospital and reportedly had a polymicrobial infection in his respiratory tract.

The Vatican on February 18 announced that Pope Francis had bilateral pneumonia and his clinical condition was quite complicated. He had an asthma attack on February 22 and his condition was critical.

The Vatican noted that the Pope, who experienced a bronospasme crisis on February 28, underwent bronchoaspiration, where mechanical ventilation treatment began. The treatment was recorded to have received a positive response.

His condition remained stable on March 1-2.

The leader of the world's Catholics experienced two acute respiratory failures and non-invasive mechanical ventilation treatment continued on March 3.

Pope Francis has stabilized since March 4, and is starting to show signs of recovery.

Radiologically confirmed recovery was also recorded a few days earlier in its last chest X-ray on March 12.