Pope Francis was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Friday, Feb. 14, to undergo testing and treatment for bronchitis, the Vatican said.
The Vatican on Tuesday said tests earlier in the afternoon showed Pope Francis had developed “bilateral” or double pneumonia, leading doctors to prescribe additional treatment for the Holy Father.
“Laboratory tests, [a] chest X-ray, and the Holy Father’s clinical condition continue to present a complex picture,” a statement from the Holy See Press Office said.
The pope underwent a chest CT scan on Tuesday afternoon, the Vatican said, with the results showing “the onset of bilateral pneumonia, which required additional drug therapy.”
The pope remains “in good spirits,” the Holy See noted.
“This morning he received the Eucharist, and throughout the day he alternated rest with prayer and reading texts. He gives thanks for the closeness he feels at this time and asks, with a grateful heart, that we continue to pray for him,” the statement said.
The pope continues to postpone public appearances as his respiratory infection persists, with the Vatican announcing Tuesday the cancellation of Saturday’s jubilee audience and the delegation of Sunday’s special Mass.
