Pope reaches two-week mark at hospital with pneumonia, doctors suggest he’s overcome the worst

Pope Francis recovers from pneumonia, showing improvement but still in hospital; upcoming events may be affected.

Pope Francis reached the two-week mark recovery from pneumonia Friday (February 28, 2025) as doctors suggested he had overcome the most critical phase of the infection while holding out on declaring him out of danger entirely.

The Vatican’s early Friday update also suggested a level of normalcy and routine as the 88-year-old Pope continues recovering at Rome's Gemelli Hospital. “As in past days, the night was tranquil and the pope now is resting.”

In their Thursday evening bulletin, doctors said Pope Francis’ clinical condition had confirmed that he was improving. He was alternating the high-flow supplemental oxygen he had been receiving by a nasal tube with a mask in a sign of improved respiratory function. Additionally, he left his hospital room to go to his nearby private chapel to pray, while continuing with respiratory physiotherapy and work, the Vatican said.

For the second day in a row, doctors avoided saying Pope Francis was in critical condition, suggesting he had overcome the most acute phase of the infection. But given the complexity of his lung infection, they said “further days of clinical stability are needed” before they revise their prognosis officially and say he is out of danger.

Pope Francis has been at Gemelli Hospital since Feb. 14 after his bronchitis worsened.

He has shown steady, albeit slight improvements since a respiratory crisis and kidney trouble over the weekend sparked fears for his life. The improvements beat back speculation of an imminent death, resignation or a conclave and signaled that he was still very much in charge.

In Mexico City, a few dozen people gathered Thursday night at the cathedral to pray for Pope Francis’ recovery.