Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez stated that the Pope is slowly regaining strength in the hospital but must "relearn to speak" after prolonged use of high-flow oxygen therapy. The Cardinal, who leads the Vatican's doctrinal office, dismissed speculation regarding the Pope's condition, affirming that he is returning to his old self.
"The Pope is doing very well, but high-flow oxygen dries everything out. He needs to relearn how to speak, but his overall physical condition is as it was before," Fernandez noted during a presentation of a new book by Francis on poetry.
The 88-year-old Pope has been hospitalized for five weeks due to double pneumonia. During this time, the Vatican has only released one health update, on March 6, when his voice was broken, breathless, and difficult to understand.
In the latest health update, the Vatican reported that the Pope's condition remains stable, with minor improvements in his breathing and mobility. It confirmed that he has been using additional help with breathing at night since Monday but primarily receives oxygen through a small hose under his nose.
There is still no official word on when he might return to the Vatican, and Fernandez expressed uncertainty about whether he would be discharged in time for Easter on April 20. "He could return, but the doctors want to be 100% sure because he believes that with the little time he has left, he wants to dedicate himself entirely to others, not to himself," Fernandez remarked.
When asked if he thought Francis might step down, the Cardinal responded, "I really don't think so, no."
Francis has faced several health challenges over the past two years and is vulnerable to lung infections due to a previous bout of pleurisy and having had part of one lung removed.