Pope Francis Rebounding From Life-Threatening Health Crisis/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Pope Francis is showing “a truly surprising improvement” after battling double pneumonia and a severe respiratory infection, according to his lead physician. The 88-year-old pontiff is recovering at the Vatican and undergoing therapy as doctors cautiously monitor his progress.
Pope Francis Health Update Quick Looks
- Pope Francis recovering after 5-week hospital stay in Rome
- Doctor says his condition has improved more than expected
- Pontiff survived double pneumonia and a severe infection
- Still receiving therapy for fungal infection and trauma-related injuries
- No extraordinary life-extending measures were taken during treatment
- Francis consented to high-risk treatment during critical moment
- Voice, breathing, and mobility steadily improving
- Pope jokes with doctor, signaling return of sharp humor
- Ordered to rest for at least two months, avoid public crowds
- Weekly medical checkups continue at the Vatican
Pope Francis Rebounding From Life-Threatening Health Crisis
Deep Look
Pope Francis Making Remarkable Recovery After Life-Threatening Pneumonia Battle, Doctor Says
ROME — Pope Francis is recovering faster than expected from a serious bout of double pneumonia and a complex respiratory infection, with his lead physician calling the progress “a truly surprising improvement” just days after the pontiff returned to the Vatican.
Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the surgeon who oversaw Francis’s five-week hospitalization at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, visited the pope at his residence in Santa Marta this week and reported notable gains in strength, alertness, and respiratory function.
“I find him very lively,” Alfieri said Saturday. “I believe he will return — if not to 100%, at least to 90% of where he was before.”
Health Crisis Began in February
Francis, 88, was hospitalized on February 14 following weeks of chronic bronchitis symptoms that evolved into double pneumonia. Further tests revealed a polymicrobial infection involving viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens. The Vatican confirmed that his condition was serious, particularly given his age, limited mobility, and a prior lung surgery in his youth.
A critical moment came just one week into his stay when a severe respiratory crisis pushed Francis to the brink. Dr. Alfieri told reporters that he presented the pope with a high-stakes decision — a decisive treatment that could save his life, but might damage key organs.
“He gave his consent, and then turned to his personal assistant, Massimiliano Streppetti, to say: ‘We approve everything — even if it means risking kidney or bone marrow damage,’” Alfieri recalled.
While the intervention was risky, Alfieri emphasized that it was not “aggressive” or extraordinary, but rather medically necessary. The February 22 episode was one of several life-threatening points during the pope’s hospitalization.
Steady Signs of Recovery
Since returning to the Vatican last Sunday, Pope Francis has begun regaining his strength. Though he appeared visibly frail and short of breath during a balcony appearance at Gemelli Hospital, Alfieri said his breathing has improved and his need for supplemental oxygen is decreasing.
The limited movement in his arm, which prevented him from giving a full blessing, is attributed to an injury sustained prior to his hospital stay. Alfieri noted that this will take longer to heal, but does not represent a new complication.
Francis is now undergoing speech, physical, and respiratory therapy, and continues treatment for the fungal infection, which could take several months to fully resolve.
Alfieri remains in close contact with the pope’s medical team and plans to visit him weekly. “He still needs monitoring,” he said. “But all indicators are positive.”
Humor and Determination Return
In a lighthearted moment during this week’s visit, Alfieri told Francis that he had the mindset of someone decades younger. “I said he had the mentality of a 50- or 60-year-old,” Alfieri said. “He leaned in and joked, ‘Not 50 — 40.’”
It was a signal that the pope’s signature humor and sharpness have returned — a comforting sign for his staff and global followers.
Despite his improved health, doctors have ordered Francis to rest for at least two months and refrain from appearing in public crowds. Alfieri noted that the pope’s strong work ethic could pose a challenge to recovery, joking that “if he keeps improving like this, they’ll have to put the brakes on.”
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