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By Gabe Whisnant
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Pope Francis remained in stable condition Tuesday night, breathing with the aid of supplemental oxygen following respiratory crises the day before, though doctors plan to resume using a ventilation mask at night, the Vatican said.
In its latest update, the Vatican reported that the 88-year-old pope, who has chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed in his youth, had no further respiratory episodes after a day spent praying, resting, and undergoing respiratory therapy to combat double pneumonia.
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Why It Matters
Francis' medical team has not provided an in-person update since Feb. 21, underscoring the unpredictable nature of his hospitalization, which began on Feb. 14 and has become the longest of his 12-year papacy.
What To Know
On Monday, Francis suffered two respiratory crises, setting back his recovery. Doctors removed a significant amount of mucus from his lungs and placed him on a noninvasive mechanical ventilation mask overnight to assist his breathing. By Tuesday morning, he was stable enough to switch to high-flow supplemental oxygen through a nasal tube.
Doctors intend to put the ventilation mask back on while he sleeps to ensure oxygen is delivered directly into his lungs.
While his condition has stabilized, his prognosis remains guarded, indicating that he is not yet out of danger.
Speculation about the pope's potential resignation began circulating shortly after his hospitalization. On February 20, Italian Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, a retired prelate not widely regarded as close to the pope, hinted in a radio interview that Francis might step down.
When asked about the possibility of resignation during a Vatican press conference, French Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline—sometimes mentioned as a potential successor to Francis—responded, "Everything is possible."
What People Are Saying
Elisabetta Pique, a personal friend and biographer of Francis, told Reuters Tuesday: "He's always been a fighter. He doesn't give in under pressure. The more pressure they put on him, the more likely he won't give in."
Pique, a correspondent for the Buenos Aires-based La Nacion newspaper said the former Argentine Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, elected pope in 2013, doesn't have any plans to step down.
Rev. Fernando Laguna, parish priest of the Argentine church in Rome, said Tuesday at the hospital: "I am very happy to be now close to him. I would like to hug him, but it's not possible, but he told us that a prayer is like a hug, so I am happy despite the pain."
Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, the president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, told reporters on Monday: "Today the pope is giving us an extraordinary teaching on fragility. Today the pope, not through words but with his body, is reminding all of us, we elderly people to begin with, that we are all fragile and therefore we need to take care of each other."
What Happens Next
Francis' treatment coincides with the Vatican's preparations for Lent, the solemn season leading up to Easter on April 20. A cardinal has already been assigned to stand in for him during Ash Wednesday services this week, which traditionally include a procession in Rome.
The pope was also scheduled to join the Holy See's leadership for a spiritual retreat this coming weekend. On Tuesday, the Vatican said the retreat would go ahead without Francis but in "spiritual communion" with him. The theme, selected weeks ago and well before Francis got sick, was "Hope in eternal life."
This is a developing news story and will be updated as more information is available.
Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this article.
Update: 3/4/24, 1:46 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update: 3/4/24, 4:34 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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