VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis has overcome his fourth health crisis since hospitalisation as he soldiers on with his recovery, Vatican sources have stated. 

 The day after having acute respiratory failure, followed by a much more violent onslaught of the condition, which led to the pontiff, 88, having to have a painful procedure in order to alleviate the blockage in his airways caused by excess mucus, it has been reported that his condition is stable and he no longer has a fever. From Valentine’s Day up until yesterday, there have been almost daily bulletins regarding Francis’ health as he oscillated between recovery and the worsening of his condition. 

 His condition is, of course, very common in the elderly in this season but after the additional diagnosis of asthmatic bronchitis, from which the doctors had said he would never recover, there has been increased talk of a conclave and the selection of the next pope. In some rather more hopeful news, however, it would appear that Francis’ condition is stable and the treatments have been working, as for the last 24 hours the pope has not had any further respiratory problems.

 While this does not mean that his stay in hospital will be over immediately and he will spring straight back into action, it could potentially put talk of the next conclave on the backburner. Francis has now been taken off intubated ventilation, instead being able to access an oxygen mask, when necessary, which ought to allow him time to recover physically from his various procedures. 

 It is important to note that he is not yet out of the woods and will still require monitoring and supervision as he had two serious respiratory illnesses at the same time, however, his prognosis is looking more hopeful. He has managed to fill his days in hospital with prayer rest and on Tuesday morning he received the eucharist, according to sources. 

 In the meantime, the Vatican has released a video message from the pope, that was recorded prior to his hospitalisation, in which he said that ‘the perfect family does not exist’ and thus, we must seek and ask for ‘forgiveness’. The Ash Wednesday ceremonies to mark the beginning of lent were being celebrated instead by Cardinal Angelo de Donatis, as Bergoglio spends his 20^th day in hospital recovering. 

 The meditations were to be held by Father Roberto Pasolini, a preacher of the pontifical house, and were to be on ‘the hope of eternal life.’ A theme that was chosen previously and nothing to do with the fact that the pope his in hospital, the Vatican wanted to stress in their statement. 

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