‘Supported by the people of God’: Pope is stable and no longer uses mechanical ventilation

The Pope, he said, no longer needs the Vatican calls “noninvasive mechanical ventilation,” but continues to receive oxygen through a small hose placed under the nose.

The statement says that the Pope had no fever and that doctors kept their prognosis as “cautious” due to the “complexity of the clinical picture”, which means that the Pope is not out of danger.

Francisco, who spends the 17th night at the hospital, met on Sunday with two Vatican authorities and thanked the supporters for their prayers and support in a written message.

“I would like to thank the prayers,” Francis said in a statement released by the Vatican in place of his usual Sunday prayer with the pilgrims, which the Pope could not lead for the third consecutive week.

“I feel all your affection and closeness and … I feel like it was ‘loaded’ and supported by all the people of God,” the message said.

Treatment continues

This Sunday, Francisco met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican’s second authority, and Parolin’s deputy, said Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni, without further details about the meeting.