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Pope Francis' medical condition remains stable, as reported by his doctors on February 19. A Vatican medical bulletin noted that recent blood tests showed slight improvement in the pope's inflammatory markers, which are indicators used to monitor infections.
The Vatican also confirmed a private meeting between Pope Francis and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at Rome’s Gemelli hospital. The prime minister had announced her visit earlier that day. "I am very happy to have found him alert and responsive," Meloni stated in a communique from her office. "We joked as always. He has not lost his proverbial sense of humor."
Previously, a Vatican medical bulletin on February 18 revealed that a CT scan detected the onset of double pneumonia in Pope Francis. His history of lung issues and recurrent bronchitis episodes have resulted in conditions like bronchiectasis and asthmatic bronchitis, complicating therapeutic treatment.
Despite being advised to rest completely and avoid visitors, Pope Francis reportedly gets out of bed daily, reads, and does some work. His secretaries remain with him at the hospital, and he continues his regular evening phone calls to Holy Family Parish in Gaza.
A source disclosed that Pope Francis' heart is "holding up well" without needing ventilatory support such as a ventilator or oxygen mask. Before his hospitalization on February 14 at the main Gemelli hospital, he underwent tests at Rome’s Gemelli Isola Hospital.
Masses are held twice daily in the St. John Paul II Chapel within the hospital, where prayers for Pope Francis are customary during his stay there. According to La Repubblica newspaper, special prayers were added on February 19 by Father Nunzio Currao, the hospital chaplain. He prayed for divine protection over the pope and hoped for his swift recovery so he could continue leading the church with wisdom and love.
