Pope Francis slept peacefully and had breakfast after pneumonia diagnosis

Pope Francis slept peacefully and ate breakfast after he developed pneumonia in both lungs, the Vatican said on Wednesday.

A Vatican spokesman said Francis spent his fifth night in Rome’s Gemelli hospital peacefully: “He had a tranquil night, woke up and had breakfast,” he said.

The 88-year-old has been suffering from a respiratory infection for over a week, including asthmatic bronchitis, and requires cortisone and antibiotic treatment.

“Laboratory tests, chest X-ray, and the Holy Father’s clinical condition continue to present a complex picture,” the Vatican said on Tuesday.

Pope Francis was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Friday after a weeklong bout of bronchitis worsened, and will not attend this weekend’s jubilee events.

The Vatican is celebrating its big Holy Year, the once-every-quarter-century celebration of Catholicism that is aimed at encouraging pilgrims to come to Rome to participate in special Jubilee activities.

Pope Francis was scheduled to preside over a special audience of men preparing to become priests on Saturday as part of the Holy Year and to have ordained them during Mass on Sunday.

The pope will remain in hospital due to the infection presenting a “complex clinical picture” a Vatican spokesperson said on Monday.

Well-wishers have left flowers and candles outside Rome’s Gemelli hospital where the Pope is receiving treatment. / Credit: AP

Special jubilee events will be covered by delegates and senior clergy members in the Pope’s absence with the archbishop will celebrate the mass on Sunday.

The Vatican has given no indication of how long he might remain in hospital.

Francis had part of one lung removed after a pulmonary infection as a young man and is prone to bouts of bronchitis in winter.