The spiritual leader of Catholics and the President of the Vatican City, Pope Francis, is spending his fifth Sunday in the hospital. An announcement from the Vatican regarding the Pope’s health stated that his recovery is ongoing, but he still requires medical treatment in the hospital setting.

After being hospitalized for a month at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome due to severe bronchitis in February, the 88-year-old Pope was diagnosed with double pneumonia. A statement was issued by the Vatican about the Pope’s condition.

The statement mentioned, “The Pope’s health condition remains stable, and the improvements recorded in the past week have been confirmed. High-flow oxygen therapy is continuing, and the need for non-invasive mechanical ventilation during the night is gradually decreasing. The Pope still requires medical treatment, physical therapy, and respiratory physiotherapy in the hospital setting. Gradual recovery is being observed with these treatments.”

SHARING IMAGES OF THE POPE IS PROHIBITED Pope Francis continues to remain in seclusion in his hospital room in Rome. The Vatican has refused to share any photos of the Pope during this five-week period.

Some Vatican officials claim that it is inappropriate to share images of a sick elderly man, especially of the Pope. A decree from 1996 explicitly prohibits taking photographs or filming of the Pope’s sick bed or after his death.