Vatican says Pope Francis no longer needs ventilation to breathe at night in positive update as 88-year-old battles pneumonia
The Vatican has issued a major health update about Pope Francis as he remains in hospital recovering from double pneumonia.
Pope Francis no longer requires ventilation to help him breath at night and continues to improve, the Vatican has revealed in a positive update.
The 88-year-old leader of the Catholic Church has been at Gemelli Hospital in Rome for almost five weeks battling a double pneumonia infection.
"The clinical conditions of the Holy Father are confirmed to be improving," the Vatican said in a statement on Wednesday, local time.
The statement added the Pope’s use of non-invasive mechanical ventilation overnight, which involved placing a mask over his face, had been “suspended”.
Meanwhile, the requirement for "high-flow oxygen therapy" via a small hose under his nose has been “reduced”.
Shortly after the release of the statement, the Vatican's press office said the Pope’s doctors believe his infection to be under control.
The update said the Pope does not have a fever and his blood tests are normal.
On Wednesday, Pope Francis celebrated Mass in the hospital chapel for the first time since he was hospitalised on February 14.
Last week, the Holy Father's condition was reported to be "stable", as doctors said he was longer in imminent danger after spending 25 consecutive days in hospital.
"The improvements recorded in previous days have been further consolidated, as confirmed by both blood tests and clinical findings, as well as by the Pope’s good response to pharmacological therapy," the Holy See Press Office said.
"For these reasons, the doctors have decided today to lift their guarded prognosis.”
However, the "complexity" of the Pope’s condition ,and the severe infection at the time of hospitalisation, meant he would be continuing treatment in a hospital setting "for a period of time".
The Pope is prone to lung infections because he had pleurisy as a young adult and had part of one lung removed.
He has been receiving both respiratory physiotherapy to help with his breathing and physical therapy to help with his mobility.
The Pope has also used a wheelchair in recent years due to knee and back pain.
He is continuing to receive many well wishes for his recovery, including letters from children, during his hospitalisation.
Italy's postal service told Reuters the Pope had received about 150 kilograms of additional mail per day from around the world during his hospital stay.
-With Reuters