Pope out of danger but to remain in hospital

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis is no longer considered in imminent danger from his lung infection, but he will remain in Rome's Gemelli hospital for several more days to continue receiving medical treatment, the Vatican said.

The improvements in the 88-year-old pope's condition recorded in the previous days "have been further consolidated" and were confirmed by the results of blood tests and his positive response to drug therapy, the Vatican said in its evening medical bulletin March 10.

Doctors had previously noted "a good response to therapy" March 8, adding that his gas exchanges -- the intake of oxygen and output of carbon dioxide -- had improved and that blood tests showed his condition to be stable.

While his doctors' prognosis for the pope was "guarded" for more than three weeks after he was hospitalized Feb. 14, they lifted that designation March 10, indicating he was no longer in imminent danger from the infection that hospitalized him. He was diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia Feb. 18.

However, due to the severity of the infection and the complexity of his condition, doctors determined that "it will be necessary to continue, for additional days, medical drug therapy in a hospital setting," the bulletin said.

The pope followed by video parts of the Roman Curia's Lenten retreat both March 9 and 10, the bulletin said, and he received the Eucharist before praying in the chapel of his hospital suite.

"In the afternoon he again joined the Curia's spiritual exercises, following by video connection," it said. "During the day he alternated between prayer and rest."

No new images of the pope have been seen in more than three weeks, but the Vatican shared an audio message from the pope March 6 in which, with labored breath, he thanked the faithful for their prayers for his health.

The Vatican press office confirmed that while the pope watched the main talks of the Curia retreat, participants meeting in the Vatican audience hall could not see images of the pope.

The Curia's retreat March 9-14 focused on the theme "The Hope of Eternal Life," which was chosen weeks prior to the pope's hospitalization, the Vatican press office said.

Despite his hospitalization, Pope Francis was preparing to mark two significant milestones: 67 years since entering the Society of Jesus March 11 and 12 years since his election as pope March 13.

Heavy rains and a time change led to a smaller gathering of faithful in St. Peter's Square on March 10 to pray for the pope's recovery. The rosary, typically prayed in the late evening, was moved to 6 p.m. Rome time to coincide with the Curia's spiritual exercises.

Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, the Family, and Life, led the rosary, following a meditation by Capuchin Father Roberto Pasolini, preacher of the papal household.

Reflecting on the theme of eternal life, Father Pasolini said, "We realize that, yes, death happens to us, but something much more important happens to us: life, and this is the gift of eternal life."

"This is what we must convert our attention and our hearts to," he continued. "Not to the fact that we are dead and will die, but to the fact that we are alive and will live because of God's promise."