Pope Francis is “not out of danger” and will remain in hospital for at least one more week, doctors treating him have said.
However, in their first in-person update a week after the pontiff was taken to hospital, doctors have also said he was not at risk of death.
Sergio Alfieri, the chief of the pontiff’s medical team, said: “Is he out of danger? No. But if the question is ‘is he in danger of death’, the answer is ‘no’.”
The 88-year-old pontiff is being treated for double pneumonia and chronic bronchitis at Rome’s Gemelli hospital.
Dr Alfieri said Francis was affected by a seasonal flu before being taken to hospital on 14 February..
He said “due to his challenging duties” he had suffered fatigue.
Mr Alfieri said Pope Francis was a “fragile patient” but was in “good spirits” and joking with medical staff.
Sergio Alfieri (R) said Pope Francis was a ‘fragile patient’ but was in ‘good spirits’. Pic: AP
The pope is receiving occasional supplements of oxygen and is responding to strengthened drug therapy for pneumonia.
The doctors warned that while he did not have sepsis – where germs enter the bloodstream – there was always a risk the infection could spread in his body – and that was the biggest concern.
Sepsis is a complication of an infection that can lead to organ failure and death.
Dr Luigi Carbone, the pontiff’s personal doctor, said Francis was responding to the drug therapy that was “strengthened” after the pneumonia was diagnosed earlier this week.
He is also fighting a multipronged infection of bacteria and virus in the respiratory trac
In a brief update on his health earlier on Friday, the Vatican said Francis had had a good night, had got up and eaten breakfast.
On Thursday, the Vatican said the Pope’s overall condition was “improving slightly” and his heart is working well.
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