Pope Continues Prescribed Therapies, Follows Lenten Retreat Remotely, Improvements “further strengthened”: Vatican

Pope Francis has rested well and continued his prescribed therapies this morning at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, according to the Vatican.

The Holy Father also participated in spiritual exercises via videoconference following the Lenten retreat led by Father Roberto Pasolini in the Vatican’s Paul VI Audience Hall.

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni confirmed that the pontiff prayed in the small chapel near his room on the 10th floor of Gemelli Hospital, where he has now been admitted for 26 days.

Due to the pope’s stable condition, no medical bulletin will be released this evening, though the Holy See Press Office will provide general updates to journalists as usual.

According to Vatican sources, the pope’s mood remains positive as he converses with staff caring for him. Medical teams noted yesterday that recent improvements have been “further strengthened,” as confirmed by blood work and the patient’s overall clinical condition.

Doctors have indicated Francis responds well to treatment but will need to remain hospitalized for “several more days.”

Cardinal Kurt Koch, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, will lead tonight’s rosary for the pope at 6 p.m. Rome time.

Pope Francis’ clinical condition “continues to be stable,” the Vatican reports on Monday evening.

“The improvements recorded in the previous days have been further consolidated, as confirmed by both blood tests and clinical objectivity and the good response to drug therapy,” the Holy See Press Office statement says.

As the pope continues to respond well to treatment, the Gemelli Hospital decides to “dissolve the prognosis” but confirms that the 88-year-old pontiff has to remain at Gemelli for treatment.

“However, in view of the complexity of the clinical picture and the important infectious picture presented on admission, it will be necessary to continue, for additional days, medical drug therapy in a hospital setting,” the statement says.

In the morning, the Holy Father participated in the first day of the Roman Curia’s spiritual exercises held in the Vatican’s Paul VI Audience Hall via a video link.

He also “received the Eucharist and went to the chapel of the private apartment for a moment of prayer” before joining spiritual exercises again in the afternoon.

“During the day he alternated between prayer and rest,” the Vatican update concludes.

Pope Francis spent a peaceful night at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he continues his recovery while participating remotely in the Lenten spiritual exercises, according to a Monday update from the Holy See Press Office.

The pontiff has resumed respiratory and physical therapy after transitioning from noninvasive mechanical ventilation during the night to high-flow oxygen through nasal cannulas.

The statement notes that Francis followed the Curia’s spiritual exercises via video from his hospital chair this morning, joining participants spiritually in the event in the Paul VI Audience Hall.

The 88-year-old pope has been informed about flooding in Argentina and “expresses his closeness to those affected,” the press office states.

While his medical condition remains “stable within a complex framework,” doctors maintain a reserved prognosis. A medical bulletin, which wasn’t published Sunday due to the stable clinical picture, is expected to be released Monday evening.

The rosary for the pope’s health will be prayed at approximately 6 p.m. local time in the Paul VI Hall. Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family, and Life, will lead the prayer.

Today marks the 25th day of hospitalization for Pope Francis, who was admitted to the Gemelli Polyclinic on Feb. 14.