Doctors have confirmed that Pope Francis is no longer in imminent danger of death following his battle with pneumonia. The 88-year-old pontiff, who has been hospitalized for nearly a month, is responding positively to treatment and remains stable, with significant improvements noted in recent days.
Though his condition has stabilized, his medical team has opted to keep him in the hospital for a few more days for continued treatment. The Vatican stated that while the pope’s condition is no longer life-threatening, his treatment plan will remain in place due to the complexity of his infection according to ABC News report
In a sign of his improving health, Pope Francis participated remotely in the Vatican’s week-long spiritual retreat on Monday, following the proceedings via videoconference from his hospital room. He continues to receive physical and respiratory therapy, including supplemental oxygen and a non-invasive ventilation mask at night.
The pontiff, who has a history of chronic lung disease, was initially hospitalized for bronchitis, which developed into a double pneumonia. This extended hospitalization marks the longest health-related absence of his papacy. Despite the challenges, Pope Francis remains in good spirits and is maintaining spiritual and medical engagement while he recovers.