Pope Francis has pneumonia in both lungs, remains hospitalized

Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Pope Francis has developed pneumonia in both lungs as he remained hospitalized Tuesday in Rome, according to the Vatican, which called the 88-year-old's condition "complex."

"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, adding that the pope's lab tests, chest x-ray and condition "continue to present a complex clinical picture that will require an adequate hospital stay."

Despite Tuesday's diagnosis at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, the Vatican said Pope Francis remains in "good spirits" and continues to spend his time "reading, resting and praying." The Pope thanked well-wishers for the "closeness he feels at this moment" and asked them to pray for him.

Francis, who has been in the hospital since Friday where he initially was treated for bronchitis, canceled his weekend jubilee audience Saturday and a delegation of Sunday special mass. The Holy See Office said that Archbishop Rino Fisichella, the pro-perfect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, will celebrate the Mass of the Jubilee of Deacons on Sunday in St. Peter's Basilica.

On Monday, doctors listed Pope Francis in stable condition as he received treatment for a polymicrobial respiratory infection. The pope suffered bronchitis symptoms last week and delegated his speeches to officials, before he was admitted to the hospital on Friday.

Pope Francis has been hospitalized several times for bronchitis. He underwent abdominal surgery in 2023 and received treatment for pneumonia earlier that year. The Pope is susceptible to lung infections after developing pleurisy as an adult and had part of a lung removed when he was 21.

"Pope Francis is touched by the numerous messages of affection and closeness that he has been receiving in the recent hours," the Vatican said in a statement on Monday.

"He especially wants to extend his thanks to those who are hospitalized at the time, for the attention and love they have expressed through drawings and messages of good wishes. He prays for them and asks that they pray for him."

The Vatican said earlier that medical staff prescribed "absolute bed rest" for Pope Francis while he was being treated there.