The Vatican said Tuesday that Pope Francis, who had the upper lobe of his right lung removed when he was 21 years old, had been diagnosed with pneumonia in both his lungs and that laboratory tests, chest X-ray and the pope's clinical condition "continue to present a complex picture." The chest CT scan that the Holy Father underwent yesterday demonstrated the onset of bilateral pneumonia that required further pharmacological therapy. But the Vatican said Wednesday that the Pope remains in good spirits and is grateful for the prayers for his recovery. Last Friday, Pope Francis, 88, was admitted to the hospital in "fair" condition after a week of bronchitis worsened. On Monday, the hospital determined that he was suffering from a polymicrobial respiratory tract infection, which means that a mix of viruses, bacteria and possibly other organisms had colonized in his respiratory tract. Bronchitis can lead to pneumonia, a deeper and far more serious infection of the lungs’ air sacs. Pneumonia can develop in part of or the entirety of one lung or both lungs, and it is typically more serious when both lungs are affected, because there is insufficient healthy lung tissue to compensate. Treatment may vary but can include providing oxygen through a nasal tube or mask, intravenous fluids and treatment of the underlying cause of the infection. Francis is not believed to be using supplemental oxygen. He has eaten breakfast every day, read the newspapers and done some work from his hospital room. We ask everyone to pray for his full recovery.
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