Meloni visits Pope Francis in hospital, says he is 'alert and responsive'

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday said that she visited Pope Francis in the hospital, where he is receiving treatment for double pneumonia, and described him as “alert and responsive.”

“I was very happy to find him alert and responsive. We joked as always. He hasn’t lost his proverbial sense of humour,” AFP quoted Meloni as saying in a statement, as the 88-year-old pontiff spent his sixth day in Rome’s Gemelli hospital.

Earlier in its latest update on the pontiff’s fragile health, the Vatican said Pope Francis is alert and ate breakfast on Wednesday.

Francis has the onset of double pneumonia, the Vatican said on Tuesday, complicating treatment for the 88-year-old pope who was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on February 14.

More from World

Pope Francis in hospital for 11 days and ‘critical’, thousands gather at Vatican’s St Peter’s Square for prayer Pope Francis still critical: Who are 4 Indian cardinals who will vote for the next pope?

Double pneumonia is a serious infection that can inflame and scar both lungs and makes breathing more difficult.

The Vatican had said previously that the pope had a polymicrobial infection, which occurs when two or more micro-organisms are involved, adding that he would stay in hospital as long as necessary to tackle a “complex clinical situation”.

According to Reuters, a Vatican official, who did not wish to be named because he was not authorised to speak about the pope’s condition, said on Wednesday Francis was not on a ventilator and was breathing on his own.

Impact Shorts

More Shorts

‘The cries of this widow will echo’: In first public remarks, Erika Kirk warns Charlie’s killers they’ve ‘unleashed a fire’

Trump urges Nato to back sanctions on Russia, calls for 50–100% tariffs on China

The official said the pope had been able to get out of bed and sit in an armchair in his hospital room, and was continuing to do some work.

With inputs from agencies