Vatican Confirms Pope Francis Diagnosed with Bilateral Pneumonia Amid Ongoing Respiratory Issues

Pope Francis has developed pneumonia in both his lungs and his condition remains "complex", the Vatican says. The 88-year-old has been suffering from a respiratory infection for more than a week and was admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital on Friday. "The follow-up chest CT scan which the Holy Father underwent this afternoon... demonstrated the onset of bilateral pneumonia, which required additional drug therapy," the Vatican said. It said lab tests, a chest X-ray and the Pope's clinical condition "continue to present a complex picture".

Pope Francis, who entered Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital Feb. 14 to receive treatment for bronchitis, now has double pneumonia, Vatican News reported Tuesday. The Holy See Press Office published an update Wednesday morning stating that the Pope “spent a restful night, woke up and had breakfast.” The Pope has bronchiectasis and asthmatic bronchitis, according to the report issued the evening of Feb. 18, local time. He has needed corticosteroid treatment and antibiotics for his polymicrobial infection. “A follow-up chest CT scan, to which the Holy Father was subjected this afternoon — prescribed by the Vatican medical team and the medical staff of the “A. Gemelli” Polyclinic Foundation — revealed the onset of bilateral pneumonia, requiring additional pharmacological therapy,” Vatican News’ report had stated. Still, the Pope “remains in good spirits,” the Tuesday press release said, according to the article.

The Vatican says the Pope is being treated for 'bilateral pneumonia' and his clinical condition 'continues to present a complex picture' - but that he remains in good spirits. The Pope was admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital in a "fair" condition on Friday after a week-long bout of bronchitis worsened. On Monday, medical personnel said he was suffering from a polymicrobial respiratory tract infection - a mix of viruses and bacteria in his respiratory tract. The Vatican has given no indication of how long he might remain in hospital, only saying that the treatment of such a "complex clinical picture" would require an "adequate" stay. Francis had part of one lung removed after a pulmonary infection as a young man and is prone to bouts of bronchitis in winter.