Pope Francis’ condition stationary, blood tests show ‘slight improvement’ after double pneumonia diagnosis

Meloni is the first confirmed outsider to visit the Pope apart from his secretaries and medical team, since he got admitted at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, where popes have their own suite on the 10th floor.

A woman prays in front of a statue of Pope John Paul II in front of the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic, Rome, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025, where the Pontiff is hospitalized since Friday, Feb. 14. (AP Photo)

Double pneumonia shows more serious infection

The Vatican informed that Pope Francis had gotten out of bed, up and eating, a day after tests confirmed he had double pneumonia in lungs and asthmatic bronchitis. According to doctors, Pope Francis was suffering from a polymicrobial respiratory tract infection, meaning a mix of viruses, bacteria and possibly other organisms had colonized in his respiratory tract, AP reported.

Pope Francis, 88, remains largely at risk of complications as he has a number of conditions. Apart from his age, Francis uses a wheelchair and is not physically active which make it difficult for him to clear the fluids building up in his lungs.

According to Dr. Meredith McCormack, director of pulmonary and critical care medicine at Johns Hopkins University, it would be critical to see if Pope responds to the therapy, which can include physiotherapy to help clear the lungs. “Lack of worsening would be an encouraging sign,” McCormack, according to AP.

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