Pope Francis spent a peaceful fifth night in hospital and ate breakfast Wednesday, the Vatican said in its latest update on the pontiff's fragile health.
Francis has the onset of double pneumonia, the Vatican said Tuesday, complicating treatment for the 88-year-old pope who was admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital Feb. 14.
Double pneumonia is a serious infection that can inflame and scar both lungs and makes breathing more difficult.
The Vatican had said previously the pope had a polymicrobial infection, which occurs when two or more micro-organisms are involved, adding he would stay in hospital as long as necessary to tackle a "complex clinical situation."
The pope has been plagued by ill health in recent years, including regular bouts of flu, sciatica nerve pain and an abdominal hernia that required surgery in 2023. As a young adult he developed pleurisy and had part of one lung removed.
All the pope's public engagements have been canceled through Sunday and he has no further official events on the Vatican's published calendar.
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