Pope Francis spent a quiet night, the
Vatican Press Office said on Wednesday morning.
Vatican sources later said the results of a CAT scan carried out
the previous day would be available on Wednesday and would
presumably be released with the evening Medical Bulletin.
They also said the pope had woken up after a restful night and
was sitting in an armchair.
The 88-year-old pontiff was continuing his treatment for
pneumonia, including receiving oxygen therapy as during the
previous days, they said.
"A press briefing with doctors" treating the pontiff "is not
excluded, before the end of the week, to get an update on the
general situation", the Vatican sources said, speaking about the
pope's health.
They stressed that the pope "can eat normally".
The pontiff was not reported to have received new visits, apart
from his close aids who are assisting him during his
hospitalization.
The pope on Monday received a visit from Vatican Secretary of
State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the Substitute for General
Affairs Mons. Edgar Pena Parra at the Gemelli Hospital.
Speaking about the use of the term "critical" to describe the
pope's condition in the latest medical bulletins, the same
sources explained that "the first time this term was used was
when the doctors said the pontiff was not out of danger and
therefore the prognosis was reserved".
The pope's doctors held a press briefing last Friday.
In a bulletin issued the previous evening, the pontiff was
reported to be in critical but stable condition as he battles
pneumonia at the Agostino Gemelli Hospital in Rome.
"The clinical conditions of the Holy Father remain critical, but
stable.
"No acute respiratory episodes have occurred and the hemodynamic
parameters continue to be stable", said the Medical Bulletin
released Tuesday evening by the Vatican Press Office.
The prognosis remains guarded after a new CAT scan, the bulletin
added.
The Pope, it said, "had a scheduled CAT scan this evening for
radiological monitoring of bilateral pneumonia.
The prognosis remains reserved", concluded the bulletin.
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