Pope Francis, 88, fighting double pneumonia in hospital

Pope Francis remains in hospital after being diagnosed with double pneumonia.

The 88-year-old pontiff has shown the onset of “bilateral pneumonia” and his condition “continues to present a complex picture", the Vatican said on Tuesday. Bilateral means it is present in both lungs.

The Holy See earlier cancelled a number of events over the weekend, casting uncertainty over further upcoming Holy Year events.

Nevertheless, he is “in good spirits” and is grateful for the prayers for his recovery, spokesperson Matteo Bruni said in a late update.

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The Pope was admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital on Friday after experiencing worsening bronchitis symptoms for more than a week.

The Vatican has described his condition as “fair” but previously confirmed a diagnosis of a polymicrobial respiratory tract infection, requiring an extended hospital stay for “adequate” treatment.

This complex infection involves a mix of viruses, bacteria, and potentially other organisms in his respiratory tract.

No timeframe has been given for his release.

The cancellations impact the once-every-quarter-century celebration of Catholicism, intended to draw 30 million pilgrims to Rome for special Jubilee events throughout 2025.

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This weekend's events, focused on deacons preparing for priesthood, are particularly affected. A planned papal audience on Saturday and ordination Mass on Sunday have been cancelled, with the Jubilee's organising archbishop now set to celebrate the Mass.

This follows a similar arrangement last weekend, where a cardinal presided over a Mass for visiting artists in lieu of the Pope.

The next major Jubilee events, scheduled for 8 to 9 March and dedicated to volunteers, are now also in question given the Pope's ongoing health concerns.

The Pope had part of one lung removed after a pulmonary infection as a young man and is prone to bouts of bronchitis in winter. He has admitted in the past that he is a non-compliant patient, and even his close Vatican aides have said he pushed himself too far even once his bronchitis was diagnosed.

He refused to let up on his busy schedule and ignored medical advice to stay indoors during Rome’s chilly winter, insisting on sitting through an outdoor Jubilee Mass for the armed forces on 9 February even though he was having trouble breathing.

Pope Francis’s hospital admission this year has already sidelined him for longer than a 2023 hospitalisation for pneumonia.