Pope Francis has apparently shown “slight improvement” and is responding well to ongoing oxygen therapy, according to a statement from the Vatican.Â
The 88-year-old pope has been hospitalized since February 14 due to respiratory problems that were diagnosed as bilateral pneumonia.
Doctors are keeping the pope’s prognosis under wraps as they continue to evaluate his condition.
In a show of support, Mexican artist Roberto Marquez displayed his painting of Pope Francis outside the Agostino Gemelli hospital in Rome on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.
Recently, the pontiff expressed his gratitude to everyone who has been praying for his health. It was noted by Vatican sources that the message recording was a considerable effort for him, as the sound of his oxygen machine could be heard in the audio.
The Pope has been hospitalized since  Feb. 14 with pneumonia and a bronchial infection. Candles with the pictures of him are the laid under the statue of late Pope John Paul II in Rome on Feb. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Catholics across the globe have prayed for Pope Francis since he was first hospitalized in February. This includes Vice President JD Vance, who offered a prayer for the pope during last month’s National Prayer Breakfast.
“Every day me and my children have said a prayer for the Holy Father, and we pray for his health, and we pray for his comfort as he deals with what appears to be a pretty serious health crisis,” Vance said.
