Pope Francis spent another “quiet night” in the hospital in Rome, where he has been fighting pneumonia in both lungs for a month, according to the Vatican.
While he is no longer in critical condition, the 88-year-old pontiff continues to receive respiratory support with a nasal cannula during the day and an oxygen mask at night.
The Vatican reported that Francis underwent physiotherapy yesterday, in addition to his ongoing treatment at Gemelli Hospital.
He also sampled a cake to mark his 12 years of papacy, engaged in prayer, and performed his breathing exercises.
Discussion is now shifting towards when he might be discharged.
However, his hospitalization, which began on February 14th and has been the longest and most challenging of his papacy, has raised concerns about his capacity to lead nearly 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide.
“Recovering from bilateral pneumonia takes time for an 88-year-old body, impacting energy and strength,” stated the press office.
