People join Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, for the recitation of the rosary for Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Feb. 28, 2025. Pope Francis has been hospitalized since Feb. 14 with double pneumonia. (CNS photo/Pablo Esparza)
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Pope Francis is without fever and no longer relying on mechanical ventilation during his ongoing hospitalization for double pneumonia, the Vatican said on Sunday evening.
"The clinical conditions of the Holy Father remained stable today," said a Vatican medical bulletin released at 6:30 p.m. local time. "The pope did not require non-invasive mechanical ventilation, but only high-flow oxygen therapy."
Francis had been treated with mechanical ventilation the past two days following a bronchial spasm on Friday, Feb. 28. At the time, doctors were wary of a serious setback in his recovery. To date, there have been no signs of further infection and the use of a lighter oxygen supply today is considered a positive development.
Although the Vatican bulletin noted that the pope's prognosis "remains guarded" — meaning that he is not out of danger yet — his condition is no longer described as critical.
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On Sunday morning, Francis participated in Mass, along with those who are caring for him during his ongoing hospitalization.
Later in the day, the pope met with his two top deputies at the hospital: Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's Secretary of State, and Archbishop Edgar Pena Parra, who serves as the sostituto (effectively, the pope's chief of staff).
This marked their second visit since the pope's hospitalization began on Feb. 14.
During their last visit on Feb. 24, they brought documents to sign and it was later announced that Francis had decided to hold a consistory meeting to discuss upcoming canonizations, indicating the pope's desire to plan for his return to work post-hospitalization.
The now-nightly Vatican rosary service for Francis' health and recovery will continue in St. Peter's Square this evening. Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the pope's charitable almoner, will lead the Rome-based cardinals, curial officials and hundreds of lay faithful in prayer for the ailing pope.
Outside of Rome's Gemelli Hospital, pilgrims continue to come and pray for the pope who is being treated in its 10th floor suite reserved for popes. And online, Catholics and non-Catholics from a range of backgrounds continue to express their support for Francis.
Among the latest: former Republican Vice President Mike Pence.
"One of my greatest honors as Vice President was the hour I spent with Pope Francis at the Vatican in January 2020," Mike Pence wrote on X.
"One of my greatest honors as Vice President was the hour I spent with Pope Francis at the Vatican in January 2020," wrote the evangelical Christian in a social media post on March 1. "Karen Pence and I join Catholics around the world praying for this humble and godly man. God bless the Holy Father."
Francis did not lead the traditional Sunday Angelus prayer — marking the third week in a row he has been unable to do so. The Vatican did release his prepared text on March 2.
"Let us pray for tormented Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan and Kivu," wrote Francis, noting that from his hospital room, "war appears even more absurd."
Francis continued: "I thank God for giving me the opportunity to share in body and spirit the condition of so many sick and suffering people. I would like to thank you for the prayers, which rise up to the Lord from the hearts of so many faithful from many parts of the world.
"I feel all your affection and closeness and, at this particular time, I feel as if I am 'carried' and supported by all God’s people. Thank you all!"
The National Catholic Reporter's Rome Bureau is made possible in part by the generosity of Joan and Bob McGrath.
