Skip to content

Vatican: Pope’s health ‘stable’; treatment continues as lung inflammation remains

The Vatican on Wednesday said Pope Francis’ health was stable as the Holy Father continues to receive treatment for ongoing lung inflammation stemming from a flu infection.

“The Holy Father’s condition is stable; he has no fever, but lung inflammation associated with respiratory distress remains,” the Vatican said in a statement on Wednesday afternoon.

“He continues antibiotic therapy,” the statement added.

Pope Francis has been struggling for several days with persistent symptoms following what the Vatican called a mild flu infection that developed last week.

The Vatican announced on Tuesday that it had canceled the pope’s planned trip to Dubai this week due to his continuing struggles with lung inflammation. Francis had been scheduled to travel to Dubai to deliver a speech at the COP28 climate conference.

The Vatican said on Monday that the Holy Father’s condition was “clearly improving,” with the pontiff in “good and stable” condition and without a fever.

The pope last week visited the Gemelli Isola Hospital in Rome after his flu diagnosis. During that visit, Francis underwent a CT scan to rule out the risk of “pulmonary complications,” the Holy See said at the time.

Francis, who turns 87 next month, has experienced a number of medical setbacks in recent years. He has been hospitalized on more than one occasion, most recently in June for abdominal surgery.

Part of the pope’s right lung was removed in a surgery in 1957 in Argentina before he began his novitiate with the Jesuits. Earlier this year, the pope was treated for bronchitis for several days, quipping on his April 1 release: “I’m still alive, you know.”

Though he continues to struggle with the symptoms from the flu, the pope has kept up a somewhat regular schedule at the Vatican this week, hosting a soccer team on Wednesday and appearing for his Wednesday audience (his prepared remarks, however, were read by a Vatican official), while the Holy Father also met with French abuse victims on Tuesday.

 

This story was previously published on CNA.

Receive the most important news from EWTN Vatican via WhatsApp. It has become increasingly difficult to see Catholic news on social media. Subscribe to our free channel today

Share

Would you like to receive the latest updates on the Pope and the Vatican

Receive articles and updates from our EWTN Newsletter.

More news related to this article

Saint Carlo Acutis and His Love for the Eucharist

Saint Carlo Acutis, born 1991, used technology to share his deep love for the Eucharist. Dying at 15, he inspired countless young Christians to live with faith, devotion, and joy.

Pope Francis: Complaining Christians do not give a credible witness to the Gospel

Pope Francis said Wednesday that Christians who are always resentful and full of complaints are not credible witnesses

Pope Leo sends 80 generators, medicine, food to Ukraine

Vatican aid is headed to hard-hit areas including Fastiv and Kyiv, with distribution organized through parish networks. Pope

Pope Francis responds to critics of his comments on women in Belgium

Aboard the papal plane, Pope Francis addressed criticism of his remarks about women during a Sept. 28 visit to a Catholic university in Louvain, calling it "obtuse" to intentionally misinterpret his stance.

Pope Francis extends ‘Vos estis’ decree to counter both lay and clerical abuse

Pope Francis permanently decreed Saturday an updated version of Vos estis lux mundi, his landmark legislation to counter

The origins of the Feast of Saint Peter and Paul in Rome

Rome celebrated its Patron Saints Peter and Paul on June 29th. The holiday is an important liturgical feast.

LIVE
FROM THE VATICAN

Be present live on EWTNVatican.com