Vatican issues nine-word statement in update on critically ill Pope

The 88-year-old has now spent two weeks in hospital

The Vatican issued a nine-word statement on the condition of Pope Francis, who is critically ill in hospital battling double pneumonia, on Wednesday.

The 88-year-old Pope has now spent two weeks at Rome's Gemelli hospital, marking his longest stay since he began his papacy 12 years ago.

"The pope had a tranquil night and is resting," the Vatican said in a statement.

It did not provide any further details.

On Thursday, the Vatican said Francis slept well overnight, and that he was once again resting.

A Vatican official, who did not wish to be named because he was not authorised to discuss the pope's condition, said the Pope was alert, continuing his treatments, and able to eat normally and move about his room.

The official said it was unclear how long Francis would remain in hospital. He was still receiving supplementary oxygen from a small tube under his nose, but was breathing on his own.

A public audience on Saturday had been cancelled, the Vatican said.

However, it did not say whether Francis would lead his usual weekly prayer with pilgrims on Sunday. He has not been seen in public since being admitted to hospital.

His prognosis remained "guarded", his doctors said.

People attend a Rosary prayer service for the Pope at the Vatican on Monday (AP)

He was well enough to meet the Vatican secretary of state in his room to approve new decrees for possible saints on Tuesday. During the meeting, Francis approved decrees for two new saints and five people for beatification – the first step toward possible sainthood.

The kidney “insufficiency” detected earlier in the week had receded, doctors said.

Blood tests also showed a slight improvement, and a chest CT scan indicated that his lung infection was taking a "normal evolution" as it was being treated.

Double pneumonia is a serious infection affecting both lungs, causing inflammation and scarring that can lead to breathing difficulties.

The Vatican has described the Pope's infection as “complex”, resulting from multiple microorganisms.

Francis, who has been pope since 2013, has suffered several bouts of ill health over the past two years.

He is prone to lung infections because he developed pleurisy as a young adult and had part of one lung removed.

He underwent intestinal surgery in 2021 and again in 2023.

Francis has said that he would consider resigning after his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, “opened the door” and became the first pope in 600 years to retire, in 2013.

However, Giovanna Chirri, a reporter for the Italian news agency ANSA who broke the story of Benedict’s resignation, said that she didn’t think Francis would follow suit “even if some would want it”.