Pope Francis showed a slight improvement while fighting pneumonia on Wednesday and received a visit from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who said he was “alert and responsive” and was full of good humor while fighting a case of pneumonia.
Meloni said she wanted to wish Francis well on behalf of the Italian government and the nation. She spent 20 minutes with the pope, the Vatican said.
“We made jokes as always. He did not lose his proverbial sense of humor,” she said in a statement.
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Pope Franciscus holds his homily during the weekly general public in the Paul VI Hall on 12 February 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. (Vatican media via Vatican Pool/Getty images)
Meloni is the first outsider outside of his team Visit Francis Since he was admitted to the hospital in the Gemelli hospital in Rome, where popes have their own suite on the 10th floor.
Francis showed a slight improvement on Wednesday, the Vatican said.
The clinical disorders of the Holy Father are stable, the Vatican said in a statement. “Blood tests, evaluated by the medical staff, show a slight improvement, in particular the inflammatory indices.”
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Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni in the courtyard of Palazzo Chigi. Rome (Italy), July 25, 2024. (Maximum life/maximum life/Mondadori portfolio archive via getty images)
After breakfast, Francis read some newspapers and then devoted himself to work activities with his immediate employees. He received the Eucharist for lunch.
On Wednesday, Francis’ Vicaris For Rome In his followers, he urged his followers to pray for an hour for the Pope for the Vespers services evening.
Some visitors to the hospital approached a candle.
“I think many people are disappointed, but I think even more important that we really have to pray for his health,” said Sister Charlene, a nun from Singapore who was in the Piazza.
Pope Franciscus gives his speech during his weekly general public on St. Peter’s Square, on the Vatican, on Wednesday 25 May. (AP/Andrew Medichini)
The pope is no stranger to health struggle. At the age of 21 he had removed part of his lung after developing pleurisy, which is an inflammation of the membranes that dampen the lungs.
In recent years, Pope Francis has struggled with several health fights, including operations in 2021 and 2023, as well as long -term knee problems, which have led to the use of a wheelchair.
The Associated Press has contributed to this report.
