Pope Francis is sitting up in hospital and receiving treatment, Vatican says

(CNN) — Pope Francis is “sitting in an armchair today and continuing with his treatment” for pneumonia, a Vatican source said Wednesday.

In a medical update later in the day, the Vatican said the 88-year-old pontiff has shown a “further, slight improvement” and that mild kidney issues announced over the weekend have receded.

Francis has been hospitalized for over a week. Despite slight signs of improvement, his “prognosis remains guarded,” according to the Vatican. He continues to receive high flows of oxygen, but did not suffer any asthmatic respiratory attacks on Wednesday, the Vatican said. The news comes a day after the Vatican said the pope remains in “critical” but stable condition.

The pope was first admitted to a clinic in Rome on February 14, undergoing tests for a respiratory tract infection. He was later diagnosed with pneumonia as fears grew about his condition.

In recent days, the Vatican has offered several signs of cautious optimism. Francis was “awake” and “in good humor” on Monday, the Vatican said, adding that he received the Eucharist and worked in the afternoon. That evening, he called the Parish Priest of the Parish of Gaza, with whom he has been in frequent contact since Israel launched its siege on the enclave following the October 7 Hamas-led attacks.

Francis also met with two senior Vatican officials on Monday – Cardinal Parolin, the Holy See secretary of state, and Archbishop Peña Parra, whose position as “substitute” is equivalent to the chief of staff – according to a Vatican statement.

The two top officials were the first known visitors from the church’s central administration that Francis has had since the start of his hospitalization, apart from his secretaries. He did not meet with anyone apart from his secretaries on Tuesday, Vatican sources said.

Faith leaders and worshippers around the world have gathered to pray for the Argentine leader, whose schedule has been largely cleared due to his intensive medical treatment. Notably, Francis did not deliver the weekly Angelus prayer on Sunday – for only the third time in his almost 12-year papacy.

The pope’s cousin Carla Rabezzana, 93, who lives in the municipality of Portacomaro, in the northwestern Italian province of Asti, said the family is worried for his health.

“We are all worried sick. We hope he will recover quickly and get over this bad moment. I follow everything from the news, I am very agitated,” she told the Italian state outlet RAI on Monday.

‘Mild’ kidney problems

The pope appears to be recovering from what the Vatican said on Sunday was a “mild renal failure, which is currently under control.”

Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt from Orlando Health Medical Group Urology, who specializes in kidney surgery, told CNN people should not be alarmed by the Vatican’s weekend update on the pope’s kidney health.

“I don’t think it’s anything significant per se, but we can tell his condition is still quite critical,” Brahmbhatt said on Sunday. “The kidneys itself are very delicate organs but they’re also very resilient.”

He said that in older adults, “infections can quickly worsen if the body’s immune response kicks into overdrive — something we call sepsis.” When pneumonia leads to sepsis, widespread inflammation can hurt multiple organs, including the kidneys, Brahmbhatt added.

“In Pope Francis’ case, that’s showing up as mild renal failure. Kidney damage can be temporary and improve with treatment, or it can be permanent,” he said.

Francis took part in the Holy Mass from the apartment set up on the 10th floor of Gemelli hospital on Sunday morning, the Vatican said. Those taking care of him during his hospitalization also took part. The pope thanked medical staff for their dedication in the text of Sunday’s sermon, which was sent to the press in advance.

History of respiratory infections

Francis has a vulnerability to respiratory infections. As a young man, he suffered a severe bout of pneumonia that led to the removal of part of one lung.

In 2021, doctors also surgically removed part of his colon in relation to diverticulitis, which can cause inflammation or infection of the colon. He was hospitalized with bronchitis in 2023, and in recent months has had two falls where he bruised his chin and hurt his arm, which was put into a sling.

The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, the seat of Sunni Islamic learning in Cairo, Egypt, has been praying for Francis. The pair have forged a close bond in recent years.

“I pray to God to grant my dear brother Pope Francis a swift recovery and to bless him with health and well-being so that he continues his journey in serving humanity,” the Grand Imam, Ahmed El-Tayeb, said.

US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron wished the pope well during their Monday meeting at the White House.

“We want him to get well. It’s a very serious situation but we want him to get well, if that’s possible,” Trump said.

This story has been updated with new reporting.

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