Pope Francis Resting After Peaceful Night Amid Pneumonia Battle

Pope Francis Resting After Peaceful Night Amid Pneumonia Battle

Pope Francis is “resting” after spending a “peaceful night” in the hospital, the Vatican reported on Thursday, as the 88-year-old pontiff nears three weeks of treatment for pneumonia.

The Holy See confirmed that Francis used an oxygen mask overnight for the third time. He was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on February 14 due to breathing difficulties and has since been battling pneumonia in both lungs.

Although he missed the formal Ash Wednesday celebrations in Rome, Francis participated in a blessing from his private suite on the 10th floor of the Gemelli hospital. Across the world, Christians, including those in his native Argentina, offered prayers for his recovery.

The leader of the Catholic Church, which has nearly 1.4 billion followers, has not been seen in public since his hospitalization, and the Vatican has yet to release any photos. However, he has remained engaged by publishing several texts during his stay.