THE Pope had a “quiet night” on Sunday (9 March), and his condition remains stable, three weeks after he was admitted to hospital with pneumonia in both lungs.
On Thursday evening, a short audio message was released in which Pope Francis thanked supporters for their prayers. “May God bless you and the Virgin protect you. Thank you,” he said.
It was the first recording of the Pope’s voice to be heard since his hospitalisation on 14 February. It was played at the start of the nightly rosary prayers held in St Peter’s Square.
The Pope remained on a ventilator overnight, with supplemental oxygen through a nasal cannula during the day, according to a statement from the Holy See press office.
The press office has been issuing twice-daily updates on the Pope’s condition, but have announced that, “given the stability of his clinical condition”, the next full medical bulletin would be issued on Saturday.
This confirmed that his clinical condition had “remained stable” and that he had consequently shown a “good response” to the therapies. “There is therefore a gradual, mild improvement.
“The Holy Father has been without a fever at all times. Breathing gas exchange has improved; results from blood chemistry and blood count examinations are stable. In order to monitor these initial improvements also in the coming days, the doctors prudently maintain that the prognosis is still guarded.”
On Sunday, a statement said that “Pope Francis continued his therapy, as well as respiratory and motor physiotherapy. He is following the prescribed diet, which now includes solid foods. His condition appears stable, with slight gradual improvements, as stated in Saturday evening’s medical bulletin.
“However, the overall situation remains complex, prompting doctors to maintain a guarded prognosis.”
On Ash Wednesday, the Pope took part in the blessing of the sacred ashes, which were imposed on him by the celebrant. “Afterwards, he engaged in several work activities. . . In the afternoon, he alternated between rest and work,” a statement that day said.
A post on Pope Francis’s account on X said that the ashes “remind us of who we are, which does us good. It puts us in our place, smooths out the rough edges of our narcissism, brings us back to reality, and makes us more humble and open to one another. None of us is God; we are all on a journey.”
The English Cricket Board apologised after its account reposted the Pope’s message with a joke about the Pope enjoying “the Ashes” — the name by which the cricket contest between Australia and England is known.
A spokesperson said: “This was an ill-judged post and was swiftly deleted. We apologise for any offence.”
This story was updated on 10 March 2025
