The Vatican claims Pope Francis has double pneumonia, which makes his treatment more difficult.

The Vatican announced on Tuesday that Pope Francis has developed double pneumonia, which will make his treatment more difficult and signal a further decline in his already precarious condition.
Francis was hospitalised to Gemelli Hospital in Rome on February 14 after he had been afflicted with a respiratory ailment for over a week.

“The onset of bilateral pneumonia that requires further pharmacological therapy” was the result of the pope’s Tuesday afternoon chest CAT scan, according to a statement from the Vatican.

Breathing becomes more difficult when you have bilateral pneumonia, a dangerous infection that can cause inflammation and scarring in both lungs.
“Laboratory tests, chest X-ray, and the clinical condition of the Holy Father continue to present a complex picture,” according to the Vatican.

The pope’s “polymicrobial infection” necessitated corticosteroid and antibiotic treatments, which was “making treatment more challenging,” it reiterated.

The Vatican statement went on to say, “But Pope Francis is still in a good mood.”

Because he underwent pleurisy as a young adult and had a portion of one lung removed, the pope is particularly vulnerable to lung infections.

Earlier in the day, a Vatican official, who wished to remain anonymous due to the delicate nature of the matter, stated that the pope was breathing on his own and had not been placed on a ventilator.
The Vatican declared that all of the pope’s scheduled public appearances had been cancelled through Sunday in advance of the most recent announcement.

Over the weekend, the pope was scheduled to preside over a number of festivities for the Catholic Holy Year of 2025, which ends in January of next year.

The Vatican announced on Monday that in order to address a “complex clinical situation,” physicians had modified the pope’s medication regimen for the second time while he was in the hospital.

According to medical professionals, a polymicrobial infection happens when two or more microorganisms are present and can be brought on by fungi, viruses, or bacteria.
Francis will remain in the hospital for however long it takes, according to the Vatican.
In recent years, the pope has struggled with health issues, such as frequent flu episodes, sciatica nerve discomfort, and an abdominal hernia that necessitated surgery in 2023.

He expressed gratitude for all of the support he has received in recent days, according to a Vatican statement released on Tuesday. “With a thankful heart, (he) asks for continued prayers on his behalf,” it continued.