Mar 10, 2025 - World

Pope Francis out of critical danger, remains hospitalized, Vatican says

Sareen Habeshian

Pope Francis greets people at the end of an audience at the Vatican earlier this month. Photo: Tiziana Fabi/AFP via Getty Images — Pope Francis greets people at the end of an audience at the Vatican in February. Photo: Tiziana Fabi/AFP via Getty Images

Pope Francis' health condition continues to improve and he's no longer facing immediate threat of dying from pneumonia, according a Monday update from the Vatican.

The big picture: After nearly a month hospitalized, the 88-year-old Catholic church leader's "clinical condition remains stable," though he'll have to remain in a hospital to continue treatment, the Vatican said.

Driving the news: Doctors lifted "their guarded prognosis" after confirming improvements and the Pope's positive response to pharmacological therapy, per the Vatican's statement.

"However, given the complexity of the Pope's clinical picture and the severe infection present at the time of hospitalization, it will still be necessary to continue pharmacological treatment in a hospital setting for a period of time," they said.

Context: The pontiff was admitted to Rome's Agostino Gemelli Hospital on Feb. 14 with bronchitis symptoms and but tests revealed "a complex clinical picture" that saw him diagnosed with a polymicrobial infection and later pneumonia in both lungs.

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Pope Francis out of critical danger, remains hospitalized, Vatican says

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