Pope Francis is in a "stable" condition in hospital but the clinical picture remains complex, the Vatican said Sunday, as the 88-year-old issued a statement thanking well-wishers for their support, AFP reported.
On February 14, the head of the Catholic Church was admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital with bronchitis, which later developed into pneumonia in both lungs.
After appearing to recover slightly during the week, the Argentine pope suffered a breathing crisis on Friday, causing widespread concern, but he passed a quieter weekend.
"The clinical conditions of the Holy Father remained stable today," the Vatican said on Sunday in its regular early evening medical update.
The leader of the world's almost 1.4 billion Catholics "did not require non-invasive mechanical ventilation, only high-flow oxygen therapy", it said.
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