Pope Francis’ clinical condition has shown a "slight improvement" and his heart remains stable as he battles pneumonia, the Vatican confirmed on Thursday.
Meanwhile, cardinals expressed their support for the ailing pontiff, acknowledging that resignation remains a possibility if his health deteriorates further.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni, in a late update, stated that the Pope no longer had a fever and that his key heart parameters were "continuing to be stable."
The 88-year-old head of the Catholic Church was admitted to hospital on 14 February following a worsening case of bronchitis.
Doctors later diagnosed pneumonia in both lungs in addition to asthmatic bronchitis, prescribing "absolute rest."
Calls for rest, but no indication of incapacity
Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, the Archbishop of Marseille, speaking at a Vatican press conference on a Mediterranean youth peace initiative, made light of the Pope’s relentless work ethic, remarking, "If you really want him to rest, you have to hospitalise him."
His counterpart from Barcelona, Cardinal Juan José Omella, dismissed concerns about a crisis in church leadership, affirming, "Popes change, we bishops change, priests in parishes change, communities change. But the train continues being on the move."
However, the issue of resignation was not off the table. Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, speaking to RTL 102.5 radio, noted that if the Pope’s ability to engage with people was significantly hindered, he might consider stepping down.
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"There is no question that if he (Francis) was in a situation where his ability to have direct contact (with people) as he likes to do ... was compromised, then I think he might decide to resign," Ravasi remarked.
Francis has previously disclosed that he prepared a resignation letter early in his papacy in the event that medical conditions rendered him incapable of performing his duties.
However, there is no precedent in canon law for addressing the situation of an incapacitated Pope.
Recovery continues despite fragile health
While there is no indication that Pope Francis is incapacitated, Bruni confirmed that he was well enough to wake early, get out of bed, have breakfast in an armchair, and continue working with his aides from his hospital room.
Blood tests reportedly showed a "slight improvement" in inflammation markers, though doctors caution that further assessment is needed to determine the effectiveness of ongoing treatments.'
Francis, who has a history of respiratory ailments, suffered from an acute case of pneumonia in 2023 and is vulnerable to winter infections.
Medical experts warn that pneumonia in an elderly patient of his condition poses heightened risks due to potential fluid build-up in the lungs.
Physically, the Pope faces additional challenges. He is overweight, reliant on a wheelchair due to knee problems, and had part of a lung removed in his youth. He has also admitted to being a "not-terribly-cooperative" patient in the past.
Despite these concerns, Archbishop Giuseppe Satriano of Bari remained optimistic about the Pope’s recovery, recalling his remarkable endurance during a strenuous four-nation tour of Asia last year.
"Even during the long trip in Asia, the Swiss Guards and gendarmes came back more tired than he, and we all feared he’d come back destroyed," Satriano said. "But he’s a fighter, so I think he’ll win this battle."
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