The Vatican announced Tuesday that Pope Francis has developed pneumonia in both lungs, raising concerns about the 88-year-old pontiff’s ability to overcome the infection.

According to the Vatican, Pope Francis’ respiratory illness also involves asthmatic bronchitis, which requires cortisone and antibiotic treatment.

"Laboratory tests, chest X-ray, and the Holy Father’s clinical condition continue to present a complex picture," Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni stated.

Despite his condition, Francis remains in good spirits and expressed gratitude for the prayers supporting his recovery, as per the Vatican.

Furthermore, Bruni emphasized that the Pope, who had the upper lobe of his right lung removed as a young man, was stable.

The Pope was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital last Friday after a week-long struggle with bronchitis worsened. On Monday, doctors determined he was suffering from a polymicrobial respiratory tract infection, meaning a combination of viruses, bacteria, and possibly other organisms had colonized his respiratory system.

"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 confirmed.

No details about Pope's response to treatment

While bronchitis can develop into pneumonia, a more serious infection that affects the air sacs in the lungs, pneumonia is especially concerning when it impacts both lungs, as it leaves little healthy tissue to compensate.

Treatment typically includes oxygen therapy, intravenous fluids, and addressing the underlying infection. So far, Pope Francis has not required supplemental oxygen, and continues to eat breakfast, read newspapers, and perform light work from his hospital room.

The Vatican has offered no details about how the Pope is responding to treatment beyond confirming he is fever-free. However, infectious disease expert Dr. Carmelo D’Asero noted that the absence of a fever isn’t necessarily reassuring. "A high fever is a sign of an immune response to a pathogen," he explained. "Having a low fever and having a serious bronchial infection...is a sign of a decreased immune response and that makes us worry a little bit more, let’s say. Maybe if he had a fever, it would have been better."

The Vatican has not indicated how long the Pope might remain hospitalized, stating only that his "complex clinical picture" would require an "adequate" stay, given the adjustments made to his treatment regimen.

Vatican affairs remain uninterrupted

While Vatican business largely continued, with Cardinal Pietro Parolin maintaining his trip to Burkina Faso and Cardinal Michael Czerny preparing to leave for Lebanon, some activities had to be canceled. The pope’s weekly general audience on Wednesday was scrapped, and it remains uncertain whether he will deliver his Sunday blessing for a second consecutive week.

The hospitalization has also disrupted planned events for the Vatican Holy Year, including ceremonies for deacons, which will now be led by Archbishop Rino Fisichella instead of the pope.

The pontiff's hospitalization this year has already sidelined him longer than his 2023 stay for pneumonia. The pope, who had part of his lung removed after a pulmonary infection in his youth, has admitted to being a non-compliant patient. Vatican aides have shared that Francis ignored medical advice to rest and insisted on attending an outdoor Jubilee Mass for the armed forces on February 9, despite breathing difficulties.

As his hospitalization continues, the Vatican has yet to specify when he might be discharged, acknowledging that his recovery requires careful management of a "complex clinical picture."

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