‘Nevertheless, Pope Francis is in good spirits,’ the Vatican press release stated.
Pope Francis has contracted pneumonia in both lungs, according to the Vatican.
“The control chest CT scan that the Holy Father underwent this afternoon, prescribed by the Vatican health team and the medical team of the ‘A. Gemelli’ Hospital Foundation, showed the onset of bilateral pneumonia that required further drug therapy,” The Holy See’s press office announced on Feb. 18.
This development comes as the pope remains in the hospital for a respiratory condition that began with bronchiectasis and asthmatic bronchitis and led to a polymicrobial infection.
“The laboratory examinations, thoracic x-ray and clinical conditions of the Holy Father continue to present a complex picture,” the Vatican said.
This comes after The Holy See press office announced on Feb. 17 that “all the examinations carried out to date are indicative of a complex clinical picture that will require appropriate hospital treatment.”
“Nevertheless, Pope Francis is in good spirits,” the Vatican press release said.
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Earlier that day, the Vatican announced that the pope’s Jubilee Audience scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 22, was canceled, and that he will not preside over the Holy Mass on the occasion of the Jubilee of Deacons scheduled for the morning of Feb. 23 because of his health conditions.
Archbishop Rino Fisichella, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, has been delegated to preside over the mass.
The cancellations suggest the pope’s hospital stay could continue well into the week.
“This morning, [Pope Francis] received the Eucharist and, during the day, he alternated rest with prayer and reading texts,” the Vatican said. ”He gives thanks for the closeness he feels at this time and asks, with a grateful heart, that we continue to pray for him.”
The 88-year-old pontiff was admitted to Policlinico Agostino Gemelli on Feb. 14 to treat his bronchitis, after struggling to speak at a meeting.
“Pope Francis is touched by the numerous messages of affection and closeness that he continues to receive in these hours; in particular, he wishes to address his thanks to those who are currently hospitalized, for the affection and love they express through drawings and messages of good wishes; he prays for them and asks that they pray for him,” the Vatican said on Feb 17.
Pope Francis has been dealing with bronchitis to a point where it has affected his schedule since at least Feb. 6, according to Vatican media updates.
Ryan Morgan contributed to this report.
