The Daily Populous Wednesday February 19th, 2025 morning edition
Authored by bbc.co.uk and submitted by FragMasterMat117

Despite this, the Vatican said the pontiff remained in "good spirits" and spent the day "reading, resting and praying".

Pope Francis also expressed his gratitude to well-wishers and asked them to "pray for him".

Before his admission last week, the Pope had bronchitis symptoms for several days and had delegated officials to read prepared speeches at events.

He had been due to lead several events over the weekend for the 2025 Catholic Holy Year which runs through to next January, however all public events on the Pope's calendar have been cancelled through to Sunday.

On Monday, the Vatican said that doctors had changed the Pope's drug therapy for the second time during his hospital stay to tackle what at the time was thought to be a "polymicrobial infection of the respiratory tract".

The Pope is especially prone to lung infections due to developing pleurisy as an adult and having part of one of his lungs removed at age 21.

During his 12 years as leader of the Roman Catholic church, the Argentine has been hospitalised several times including in March 2023 when he spent three nights in hospital with bronchitis.

pzombielover on February 18th, 2025 at 21:54 UTC »

For people who care, this is usually a death knell in people his age. But he’s probably got the best healthcare, so he’s got that going for him.

Hattix on February 18th, 2025 at 21:43 UTC »

"The old man's friend" it used to be called.

When the alternative was more suffering, pneumonia would kill relatively peacefully.

RazzzMcFrazzz on February 18th, 2025 at 20:59 UTC »

Not good when you’re 88