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Pope Francis Shows Signs of Recovery After Month-Long Hospitalization

The 88-year-old pontiff remains under medical care for double pneumonia as his condition stabilizes but raises questions about the future of his papacy.

Catholic worshippers gather to pray the rosary for Pope Francis' health in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
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People pray for Pope Francis in front of the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic, in Rome, Thursday, March 13, 2025, where he is hospitalized since Friday, Feb. 14. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
A marble statue of late Pope John Paul II is backdropped by the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025, where Pope Francis was hospitalized Friday, Feb. 14, after a weeklong bout of bronchitis worsened and is receiving drug therapy for a respiratory tract infection. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Overview

  • Pope Francis has spent 30 days in Rome's Gemelli Hospital recovering from double pneumonia, with recent updates indicating gradual improvement in his health.
  • Doctors report the pope is no longer in imminent danger, but his condition remains complex due to his age, limited mobility, and past lung surgery.
  • He continues to receive respiratory assistance, including high-flow oxygen therapy during the day and non-invasive ventilation at night, alongside physiotherapy and spiritual exercises.
  • The hospitalization, the longest of his papacy, coincided with the 12th anniversary of his election, which he marked quietly with cake and prayers in the hospital.
  • Speculation grows about potential changes to the nature of his leadership, with experts suggesting a less physically active but still authoritative pontificate moving forward.