Star Metro - Pope still improving, Vatican eyes end of hospitalisation

The 88-year-old leader of the world's Catholics was admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital on February 14 with bronchitis, which became pneumonia in both lungs.

The Argentine suffered a series of breathing crises that sparked serious concern for his life, the most recent of them on March 3.

But after a week of steady improvements, on Monday evening, the Holy See said his prognosis was no longer considered "reserved", or uncertain.

"The clinical conditions of the Holy Father continue to be stable," it said in a statement.

"The improvements recorded in the previous days have been further consolidated, as confirmed by blood tests and clinical objectivity and the good response to pharmacological therapy."

It added that "in view of the complexity of the clinical picture" and his condition on hospitalisation, "it will be necessary to continue, for further days, the pharmacological medical therapy in a hospital environment".

This suggests that once this therapy is completed, he should return home.

A Vatican source had earlier Monday said it was "too soon to talk about his return to Santa Marta", the guest house within the tiny city state where the pope lives.

- Like my own father -

Francis spent Monday doing physical and respiratory therapy in his 10th-floor suite in the Gemelli hospital, the Vatican said.

As on previous mornings, he also switched from the oxygen mask he uses nightly to a cannula -- a plastic tube tucking into the nostrils -- which delivers high-flow oxygen, it said.

The leader of the world's nearly 1.4 billion Catholics has been working on and off, and following the news where possible -- including deadly floods that have hit his homeland of Argentina.

Francis "is close to the people of the Bahia Blanca area in thought and prayer", the Vatican said Monday, referring to the port city where 16 people have died.

Pilgrims across the world have been praying for the pope since he was hospitalised, from Iraq to his native Argentina.

On Sunday evening, there was a special service in Myanmar's biggest metropolis.

"I feel saddened like he is my own father since he has been sick," Francis Than Htun, the rector of St. Mary's Cathedral and auxiliary bishop of Yangon archdiocese, told AFP.

The pope has suffered a series of health issues in recent years, from colon surgery in 2021 to a hernia operation in 2023, but this is the longest and most serious stay in hospital of his papacy.

During previous stays, he has appeared on the Gemelli balcony for his weekly Sunday Angelus prayer.

But on Sunday he missed for the fourth time delivering the traditional Angelus prayer in person.

He instead issued a written one, in which he thanked his doctors for his care during the more than three weeks that he has been an in-patient.

"I too experience the thoughtfulness of service and the tenderness of care, in particular from the doctors and healthcare workers, whom I thank from the bottom of my heart," he said.

Francis has not been seen in person since he was admitted, though he released a breathless audio message on Thursday thanking people for their prayers.

Hearing from the pope, however weak he sounded, was hailed a sign of hope by some faithful. Others, however, said it brought home just how long his recovery could take.

L.Côte--SMC