The Vatican announced on Tuesday evening, Feb. 18, that Pope Francis has developed pneumonia in both lungs after new tests showed a further complication in the condition of the 88-year-old pontiff.
The pope’s respiratory infection also involves asthmatic bronchitis,.
“Laboratory tests, chest X-ray, and the Holy Father’s clinical condition continue to present a complex picture,” the Vatican said.
As a young man, Pope Francis had the upper lobe of his right lung removed.
Nevertheless, the pope remains in good spirits, the Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni said.
He was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital in a “fair” condition on Friday, Feb. 14, after a weeklong bout of bronchitis worsened.
On Monday, Feb. 17, medical personnel determined that he was suffering from a polymicrobial respiratory tract infection, meaning a mix of viruses, bacteria and possibly other organisms had colonised his respiratory tract.
“The follow-up chest CT scan which the Holy Father underwent this afternoon … demonstrated the onset of bilateral pneumonia, which required additional drug therapy,” Bruni said.
The Vatican also said that Pope Francis has eaten breakfast every day, read the newspapers and worked from his hospital room.
No indication was provided as to how much longer the pope is likely to remain hospitalised, other than that his treatment, which has already required two changes in his drug regimen, would require an “adequate” stay in hospital.