Pope Francis, who has been hospitalized for pneumonia for the 19th day, experienced a crisis due to breathing difficulties the previous day but has stabilized, the Vatican announced on the evening of the 4th (local time). The artificial respiration treatment that resumed in the afternoon of the previous day has also been replaced by oxygen supplementation during the day and will be used only at night.
In a press release on the day, the Vatican noted, "The Pope's health condition has remained stable throughout the day," adding, "He did not experience respiratory failure or bronchospasm." Furthermore, "The Pope has no fever, is alert, is aware of the situation, and is cooperating with the treatment."
The Pope's health condition is fluctuating between improvement and sudden breathing difficulties. In the afternoon of the previous day, he suffered acute respiratory failure due to mucus accumulation in the bronchi. Medical staff extracted "a tremendous amount" of mucus from the Pope's lungs and assisted his breathing with a mechanical ventilator. However, by the morning of the day, he had returned to a stable state where high-concentration oxygen supplied through a nasal tube was sufficient. Nevertheless, medical staff decided to use the ventilator while the Pope sleeps that evening. They plan to cover his nose and mouth to supply oxygen to his lungs. Medical staff reported that they need to monitor the Pope's progress further. The Associated Press analyzed, "This means that the Pope is still not out of danger."
Pope Francis underwent surgery to remove part of his lung due to pleurisy in his youth. Since then, he has been susceptible to pneumonia, a lung infection caused by bacteria and viruses. He has been hospitalized several times during his 12-year term since becoming the first Pope from Argentina in 2013. In March 2023, he was hospitalized at the current hospital for treatment of bronchitis. In June 2021, he underwent colon surgery and has used a wheelchair or cane due to sciatica and knee pain.
The Pope was hospitalized at Gemelli Hospital for respiratory illness on the 14th of last month. His condition is serious, as pneumonia has been confirmed in both lungs, marking the longest hospitalization since his inauguration in March 2013. He is now in his 19th day of hospitalization.