![[Updated] Pope Francis Ventilated After Bronchospasm](https://respiratory-therapy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/pope-francis-respiratory-infection-1280x640.jpg)
This article was originally posted February 14, 2025. It will be updated as news is announced.
Pope Remains Hospitalized, Sends Audio Message to Supporters
Mar 7, 2025, 12:00pm ET
Pope Francis’s hospitalization hit the three-week mark on March 7th, as he continues to be treated for a complex case of bilateral pneumonia.
A clinical update on Thursday from the Holy See Press Office says he remains in stable condition.
He has not experienced any episodes of respiratory insufficiency today. The Pope has continued both respiratory and motor physiotherapy with beneficial effects. Hemodynamic parameters and blood test results remain stable.
He did not run a fever. However, the prognosis remains reserved.
via Vatican News
The Vatican also revealed that the Pope recorded a thank you message to everyone praying for his recovery, which was played aloud in St. Peter’s Square.
“I thank you with all my heart for the prayers you offer for my health from [St. Peter’s] Square. I accompany you from here. May God bless you, and may the Virgin protect you. Thank you.”
via Vatican News
More information is available on the Vatican press office website.
Pope’s Condition Stable, Alternating NIV and High-flow Oxygen
Mar 4, 2025, 6:30pm ET
The Vatican is reporting that Pope Francis’s condition is stable and he will resume noninvasive ventilation overnight.
The Pope was taken off NIV Monday morning and given high-flow oxygen.
This morning, he transitioned to high-flow oxygen therapy and underwent respiratory physiotherapy. As scheduled, tonight he will resume noninvasive mechanical ventilation until tomorrow morning. The prognosis remains guarded.
via Vatican News
More information is available on the Vatican press office website.
Pope Ventilated Again, After Two Episodes of “Acute Respiratory Insufficiency”
Mar 3, 2025, 1:25pm ET
Pope Francis has been placed back on noninvasive mechanical ventilation after suffering two acute respiratory events on Monday, according to the Vatican.
The Pontiff required two bronchoscopies to remove “large secretions,” the Vatican press office says.
Today, the Holy Father suffered two episodes of acute respiratory insufficiency, caused by a significant accumulation of endobronchial mucus and consequent bronchospasm.
Two bronchoscopies were therefore performed, with the need to remove large secretions.
In the afternoon, noninvasive mechanical ventilation was resumed. The Holy Father remained alert, oriented and cooperative at all times.
via Vatican News
This is the second time in the last four days that the Pope has been put on NIV, after the original instance on Friday evening. He was taken off ventilation on Sunday and given supplemental oxygen as his condition was showing improvement.
The Vatican said the Pontiff’s prognosis remains “guarded.”
More information is available on the Vatican press office website.
Pope No Longer on Ventilation as Condition Improves
Mar 2, 2025, 11:00pm ET
The Vatican is reporting that Pope Francis has been taken off mechanical ventilation but continues to receive supplemental oxygen. The Pontiff’s condition has improved, but risk of deterioration continues.
Today, too, the Holy Father’s clinical condition has remained stable. The Pope has not required non-invasive mechanical ventilation, but only supplemental high-flow oxygenation. He does not have a fever.
Given the complexity of the clinical picture, the prognosis remains guarded.
No direct consequences from last Friday’s isolated bronchospasm are evident. However, the risk of a deterioration in the Pope’s condition remains.
via Vatican News
More information is available on the Vatican press office website.
Pope Francis Suffers Bronchospasm, Put on Noninvasive Ventilation
Feb 28, 2025, 2:00pm ET
Multiple media outlets are reporting that Pope Francis has been put on noninvasive ventilation after a bronchospasm suffered late Friday night at Rome’s Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic hospital.
According to CNN, the Pope aspirated some vomit during the episode.
The episode was complicated by vomiting, some of which he aspirated, the Vatican said. Medical staff treated the aspiration issue before putting the pope on mechanical ventilation, it said.
The Vatican added that the pontiff “remained alert and oriented at all times.”
via CNN.com
A report from the Vatican provided more details and called the Pope’s condition “guarded.”
The Holy Father was promptly subjected to bronchial aspiration (to clear his airways) and was put on non-invasive mechanical ventilation, which improved his oxygen levels.
He has remained alert and aware at all times, cooperating with therapeutic treatments.
The prognosis, therefore, remains guarded.
About 24 to 48 hours will be needed to be able to assess the Pope’s clinical condition following the isolated bronchospasm episode.
Thanks to noninvasive mechanical ventilation, gas exchange values are reported to have returned to levels similar to those before the episode.
via Vatican News
Earlier in the day Friday, the Vatican reported that the Pontiff was showing improvements in his battle with bilateral pneumonia.
More information is available on the Vatican press office website.
After Two Weeks of Hospitalization, Pope’s Condition Improving
Feb 28, 2025, 10:00am ET
The Vatican reported continued improvement in the Pope’s condition as he battles a bilateral pneumonia infection that hospitalized him two weeks ago (Feb 14).
As in recent days, the night passed calmly, and the Pope is now resting. After waking up this morning, the Holy Father ate breakfast and read a few newspapers. He continues his treatment and breathing physiotherapy.
via Vatican News
However, the Vatican says the Pope will not preside over Ash Wednesday services on March 5.
More information is available on the Vatican press office website.
Pope Has Passed “Most Critical Phase” but Remains Hospitalized
Feb 27, 2025, 2:30pm ET
The Pope continues to battle pneumonia in both lungs and remains hospitalized in Rome, but the Vatican reports that he continues to show improvement.
“According to reports, the Pope has passed the most critical phase, but his condition remains complex. For this reason, the prognosis remains guarded,” the Vatican press office says.
He alternated high-flow oxygen therapy with a Ventimask. Due to the complexity of the clinical picture, further days of clinical stability are needed to clarify the prognosis.
In the morning, the Holy Father underwent respiratory physiotherapy, alternating it with rest. In the afternoon, after an additional physiotherapy session, he spent time in prayer in the chapel of his private apartment on the 10th floor, where he received the Eucharist. He then engaged in work activities.
via Vatican News
More information is available on the Vatican press office website.
Pope’s Shows Improvement but Still Critical Condition
Feb 24, 2025, 12:00pm ET
The Vatican reports that Pope Francis showed a “slight improvement” on Sunday but remains hospitalized in critical condition.
The Pope has been hospitalized since February 14 battling multiple lung conditions and now kidney insufficiency.
No episodes of asthma-like respiratory distress occurred today, and some laboratory tests have shown improvement. The monitoring of his mild kidney insufficiency has not raised any concerns. Oxygen therapy continues, although with slightly reduced flow and oxygen levels.
Given the complexity of the clinical picture, the doctors are prudently maintaining their cautious prognosis.
via Vatican News
More information is available on the Vatican press office website.
Pope Experiencing Early Kidney Failure
Feb 23, 2025, 1:30pm ET
Blood tests on Pope Francis showed early kidney failure on Sunday, and the Pontiff remains in critical condition, according to the Vatican press office.
The “mild renal insufficiency” is currently under control, the Vatican reports.
He received two units of concentrated red blood cells with beneficial effects, and his hemoglobin levels have risen. The thrombocytopenia remains stable; however, some blood tests show early, mild renal insufficiency, which is currently under control.
via Vatican News
More information is available on the Vatican press office website.
Pope in Critical Condition, Requires High-flow Oxygen
Feb 22, 2025, 11:00am ET
The Vatican says Pope Francis experienced an “asthma-like respiratory crisis” and required high-flow oxygen therapy on Saturday.
The Pope also required blood transfusions due to thrombocytopenia.
The condition of the Holy Father continues to be critical. Therefore, as explained yesterday, the Pope is not out of danger. This morning, Pope Francis experienced an asthma-like respiratory crisis of prolonged intensity, which required the administration of high-flow oxygen.
Today’s blood tests also revealed thrombocytopenia, associated with anemia, which required the administration of blood transfusions.
The Holy Father remains alert and spent the day in an armchair, although he is more fatigued than yesterday. At the moment, the prognosis remains guarded.
via Vatican News
More information is available on the Vatican press office website.
Pope Francis Now Has Pneumonia in Both Lungs
Feb 18, 2025, 6:30pm ET
Pope Francis, who was hospitalized on Friday (Feb 14) with bronchitis, has been diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs, according to a report from the Vatican press office.
The Vatican called the Pope’s condition “complex” but said he remains in “good spirits.”
According to the Holy See Press Office, the Pontiff has a “polymicrobial infection, which has arisen in the context of bronchiectasis and asthmatic bronchitis, and has required the use of corticosteroid and antibiotics, makes the therapeutic treatment more complex.”
“A follow-up chest CT scan, to which the Holy Father was subjected this afternoon—prescribed by the Vatican medical team and the medical staff of the “A. Gemelli” Polyclinic Foundation—revealed the onset of bilateral pneumonia, requiring additional pharmacological therapy.”
via Vatican News
More information is available on the Vatican press office website.
Pope in ‘Stable’ Condition
Feb 17, 2025, 1:30pm ET
As of Monday evening, Pope Francis remains hospitalized but is in “stable” condition and is “continuing with the prescribed treatment,” according to an update issued by the Vatican press office.
“The Holy Father remains without a fever and is proceeding with the prescribed treatment,” the Holy See Press Office said in a news report.
The Pope was hospitalized on Friday to receive treatment for bronchitis.
More information is available on the Vatican press office website.
Pope Remains Hospitalized Due to “Complex Clinical Picture”
Feb 17, 2025, 8:00am ET
Pope Francis requires a longer hospitalization, according to an update issued by the Vatican press office.
“[The Pope’s] complex clinical picture requires an adequate time of treatment in the hospital, and, accordingly, that his Wednesday General Audience this week is therefore canceled.”
via Vatican News
The Vatican says test results “have shown a polymicrobial infection of the respiratory tract, which has led to a further change in therapy.”
Despite the illness, the Pope is in good spirits, according to Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office.
More information is available on the Vatican press office website.
Pope’s Medical Tests Show Improvement
Feb 15, 2025, 12:30pm ET
Pope Francis remains hospitalized with bronchitis on Saturday but the Vatican is reporting that tests show improvement in certain health parameters. The Pontiff’s medical therapy was also slightly adjusted, the Vatican reports.
A statement released by the Holy See Press Office on Saturday afternoon said the Pope rested throughout the night without experiencing episodes of fever.
“The examinations carried out during the day confirm the respiratory tract infection. The therapy has been slightly modified based on further microbiological findings. Today’s laboratory tests show an improvement in some values,” it explained.
via Vatican News
More information is available on the Vatican press office website.
Update: Pope’s Condition is Stable, Begins Pharmacological Treatment for RTI
Feb 14, 2025, 4:00pm ET
In an update from the Vatican press office, Pope Francis is receiving pharmacological treatment for a respiratory tract infection and has a “slight fever.”
“Following the worsening of his bronchitis in recent days,” Pope Francis, who was admitted to Rome’s Agostino Gemelli Hospital on Friday morning, “has undergone specialist examinations and has begun hospital pharmacological treatment.”
It specified that “initial tests indicate a respiratory tract infection. His clinical condition is stable, with a slight fever.”
via Vatican News
In conversation with journalists, Matteo Bruni, the director of the Holy See Press Office, said: “The Pope is calm, he is in good spirits, and has read some newspapers.”
More information is available on the Vatican press office website.
Pope Francis Hospitalized with Bronchitis
Feb 14, 2025, 10:30am ET
Pope Francis was hospitalized in Rome on Friday to receive treatment for bronchitis, as well as diagnostic testing, according to the Vatican and multiple media reports.
The Vatican’s press office announced he would be admitted to Rome’s Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic hospital following his morning audiences.
“This morning, after his audiences, Pope Francis will be admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic for necessary diagnostic tests and to continue hospital treatment for his ongoing bronchitis.”
via Vatican News
According to The Holy See Press Office, Pope Francis “has been suffering from bronchitis for several days, as he has noted during a couple of public audiences.”
According to a report from The AP, the Pope’s hospitalization is the fourth since he was elected in 2013. The Pontiff had part of one lung removed as a young man and has recurring bouts of bronchitis, especially in winter, the AP says.
More information is available on the Vatican press office website.
