Pope Francis shows further slight improvement as he battles pneumonia, the Vatican says

Pope Francis shows slight improvement battling double pneumonia, prognosis guarded, surrounded by well-wishers and prayers worldwide.

Pope Francis has shown further slight improvement as he battles double pneumonia, but doctors said Wednesday (February 26, 2025) his prognosis is still guarded.

A chest CT scan taken Tuesday (February 25, 2025) evening showed the “normal evolution” of an infection as it is being treated, the Vatican said in its late update. The 88-year-old pope, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, is still receiving high flows of supplemental oxygen but hasn't had any more respiratory crises since Saturday (February 22, 2025).

Blood tests, which had shown some low platelet counts and anemia, have confirmed an improvement and the slight kidney insufficiency detected a few days ago has receded, the statement said.

Pope Francis is continuing to receive respiratory physiotherapy, the statement said. It was the first time the Vatican had confirmed Pope Francis was receiving physiotherapy to help him expel fluid from his lungs.

A complex lung infection has kept the 88-year-old pope hospitalized in critical condition since February 14. Pope Francis has chronic lung disease and was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital after a bout of bronchitis worsened. While doctors didn't repeat that he was in critical condition in Wednesday's (February 26, 2025) update, as they have in recent days, they said his prognosis remained guarded, meaning he wasn't out of danger.

The pope resumed work in the afternoon from his hospital room, after receiving the Eucharist in the morning. And in a sign the Holy See machinery was grinding on, the Vatican announced he had appointed four new bishops and approved the creation of a new fundraising initiative to encourage donations to the Holy See, which has been enduring a financial crisis for years.

Pope Francis likely approved the bishop appointments a while back and the new norms for the fundraising entity were approved on February 11, before he was hospitalized. But the announcements made them official and suggested Pope Francis was still very much in charge and governing.