Pope Francis Still Being Treated At Gemelli Hospital, Vatican Cancels Weekend Meeting

Pope Francis/DOK via Instagram @franciscus

Pope Francis, who spent his fifth day in hospital due to "complex" respiratory tract infections, will not take part in this weekend's Holy Year event.

The 88-year-old whale suffered from respiratory infection for more than a week and was hospitalized in Gemelli Rome on February 14.

All public events on the Pope's calendar were canceled until Sunday, the Vatican said in a statement reported by Reuters on Tuesday, February 18.

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said Pope Francis had slept well overnight and had breakfast on Tuesday.

More information on the Pope's condition is expected to be announced on Tuesday evening.

A Vatican official put the Pope on not using a ventilator and breathed on his own.

The Pope is scheduled to lead several events over the weekend for the Catholic Holy Year 2025, which runs until January.

This is a special pardon and pardon time for Catholics and the Vatican estimates 32 million tourists will visit Rome throughout the year, including for a number of special hearings with Pope Francis.

The Vatican on Monday said doctors had changed the drug therapy the Pope gave him for the second time during his hospitalization to tackle a complex clinical situation.

They describe it as a polymicrobial infection in the respiratory tract'.

Doctors say polymicrobial infection occurs when two or more microorganisms are involved, and can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi.

The Vatican said Pope Francis would stay in hospital for as long as necessary. It is not yet known whether the Pope has bacterial or viral infections.

Although bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics, viral infections cannot be treated.

Viruses usually have to recover, but patients can be helped with other drugs to reduce fever or help the body fight infection.