Pope Francis is supplied with oxygen

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After suffering from pneumonia, Pope Francis had to go through two respiratory crises again at the beginning of the week. The head of the Church’s state of health has since been “stable.” The 88-year-old spent another quiet night without any further incidents, according to a Vatican bulletin on Thursday morning. The Pope’s breathing was again supported overnight with a noninvasive mechanical ventilator.

Pope Francis is being supplied with additional oxygen. This is done partly with a breathing mask and partly through cannulas. According to Vatican sources on Thursday, the Pope will wear a mask over his mouth and nose at night, providing him with non-invasive mechanical ventilation. During the day, he will be supplied with oxygen via a tube through his nose.

Francis continued his treatments on Wednesday and again underwent respiratory physiotherapy. According to the Vatican, the pontifex spent Wednesday in an armchair. He also devoted himself to some work tasks. In the morning, he called the parish priest of Gaza, Gabriel Romanelli. In the afternoon, he alternated between resting and working. As far as the prognosis is concerned, caution is still required. The head of the Roman Catholic Church is still not out of danger.

Pope had two seizures on Monday
On Monday, the 88-year-old suffered two cases of acute respiratory failure caused by significant mucus accumulation in the lungs and muscle spasms in the bronchial area. As a result, two bronchoscopies were carried out, during which secretions were aspirated. Concern for the Pope, who had already suffered a respiratory crisis on Friday, remains high. Francis has now been in the Gemelli Clinic in Rome for 21 days—longer than ever before during his almost twelve years in office. He is being treated in the hospital for bilateral pneumonia. He has not been seen in public since his admission.

Cardinal represented Francis on Ash Wednesday
At the opening mass of Lent on Ash Wednesday on the Aventine Hill in Rome, the Pope was represented by Cardinal Angelo De Donatis. The Holy Father will also not participate in the annual Lenten retreats at the Vatican. However, as the Vatican announced on Tuesday, the so-called Lenten retreats of the Roman Curia from 9 March to 14 will occur “in spiritual communion” with the sick Pope. The meditations will be led by the Italian Capuchin priest Roberto Pasolini, “Preacher of the Pontifical Household” since November. The retreat’s title in the Vatican Audience Hall is “The Hope of Eternal Life”.

In the meantime, the faithful continued to pray for the sick Pope. On Wednesday evening, for the tenth evening in a row, people gathered in St. Peter’s Square to pray the rosary for Francis. A different high-ranking churchman presides over the prayer every evening.