Pope Francis Is Out of Medical Danger, Doctors Say, but Will Remain in Hospital

From the hospital, the pope also “expressed his closeness” to those affected by the Bahia Blanca flood in Argentina, his native country, according to the Vatican press office.

While the pope’s health shows “positive signs,” the Vatican advised “prudence and caution” in assessing his medical situation given the complexity of his clinical status and the fact that Francis has not yet fully overcome pneumonia. Moreover, he has been susceptible to respiratory infections his entire life, which resulted in a portion of his lung being removed when he was a youth.

It remains unclear how much longer the 88-year-old pontiff will be hospitalized, but Vatican observers believe he will likely not be able to perform all his previous papal duties and will increasingly rely on the aid of his collaborators, as he has done during his hospitalization.

This article originally appeared here.