Pope Francis remains hospitalized as Vatican’s Holy Year progresses without his direct involvement

Pope Francis remained in the hospital on Saturday recovering from double pneumonia as the Vatican’s Holy Year proceeded without him.

“The night passed quietly, the pope is resting,” the Vatican said Saturday morning.

Francis, 88, has been at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for three weeks, admitted on Feb. 14 due to a worsening bout of bronchitis. Initially diagnosed with a complex respiratory tract infection comprising viral, bacterial, and fungal elements, he later developed pneumonia affecting both lungs.

Pope Francis attends his weekly general audience in the Pope Paul VI hall at the Vatican on Aug. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File)

The pope has been using high flows of supplemental oxygen to help him breathe during the day and a noninvasive mechanical ventilation mask at night.

This week, Francis, with a history of chronic lung disease and a prior lung surgery, experienced acute respiratory failure. Medical procedures included bronchoscopies to remove mucus from his lungs.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.