Pope Francis had a 'good night,' continues to rest during third week of hospital treatment for pneumonia

Pope Francis had a "good night" arsenic helium continues to remainder astatine Rome’s Gemelli infirmary for his 3rd week of attraction for treble pneumonia, the Vatican said aboriginal Thursday. 

"The nighttime passed quietly; the Pope is inactive resting," the Holy See property bureau said successful a connection posted connected X, adding that the Pope’s "clinical information has remained unchangeable for the past mates of days, and his doctors accidental helium has not had much episodes of respiratory insufficiency." 

The 88-year-old pope, who has chronic lung illness and had portion of 1 lung removed arsenic a young man, has been unchangeable for 2 days aft suffering a brace of respiratory crises connected Monday. Doctors underlined that his prognosis remained guarded owed to the analyzable picture.

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Pope Francis waves from the cardinal loggia of St. Peter's basilica during the Easter 'Urbi et Orbi' connection and blessing to the City and the World arsenic portion of the Holy Week celebrations, successful the Vatican connected March 31, 2024. (Tiziana Fabi/Pool/AFP/Getty)

In caller days, helium has been sleeping with a non-invasive mechanical disguise to warrant that his lungs grow decently overnight and assistance his recovery. He has been transitioning to receiving oxygen with a nasal conduit during the day.

The pope connected Wednesday marked the commencement of Lent by receiving ashes connected his forehead and by calling the parish clergyman successful Gaza, the Vatican said. He besides added carnal therapy to his infirmary regular of respiratory therapy.

The Catholic Church opened the solemn Lenten play without the pope's participation. A cardinal took his spot starring a abbreviated penitential procession betwixt 2 churches connected the Aventine Hill and opened an Ash Wednesday sermon prepared for the pontiff with words of solidarity and thanks.

Girls, with ashes connected their foreheads, commune during a rosary supplication for Pope Francis' wellness successful St. Peter's Square astatine the Vatican, Wednesday, March 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

On Ash Wednesday, observant Catholics person a motion of the transverse successful ashes connected their foreheads, a motion that underscores quality mortality. It is an obligatory time of fasting and abstinence that signals the commencement of Christianity's astir penitent season, starring to Easter connected April 20.

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The pope was expected to be a spiritual retreat this play with the remainder of the Holy See hierarchy. On Tuesday, the Vatican said the retreat would spell up without Francis but successful "spiritual communion" with him. The theme, selected earlier Francis got sick, was "Hope successful eternal life."

Mexican creator Roberto Marquez places a coating of Pope Francis helium made extracurricular the Agostino Gemelli infirmary successful Rome connected Ash Wednesday. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

The Associated Press contributed to this report.