Pope Francis' recovery from double pneumonia continued Wednesday, with a chest X-ray confirming improvement, just two days after doctors ruled out any imminent threat to his life.
The latest medical update described his condition as stable but noted the complexity of his health given his overall fragility. The 88-year-old pope remotely followed the Vatican's Lenten spiritual retreat and resumed physical and respiratory therapy after a quiet night. He continues to receive high-flow oxygen through nasal tubes during the day and uses a non-invasive mechanical mask at night to aid his breathing.
His weekly Wednesday general audience was canceled, as the Vatican hierarchy remains on retreat, following a tradition that has been a key part of Francis' Jesuit-inspired pontificate.
Reporting by The Associated Press contributed to this story.
This is a developing news story and will be updated as more information is available.
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This story was originally published March 12, 2025 at 3:59 PM.