Pope Francis Stops Using Oxygen Mask, Details Emerge

• Pope Francis has suspended the use of an oxygen mask, the Vatican said on Wednesday, March 19
• The Vatican added that the 88-year-old's clinical condition was "improving" after more than one month in hospital
• The Argentine Pope hospitalised at Rome's Gemelli Hospital since 14 February with pneumonia in both lungs, has shown significant progress in his recovery, according to the Vatican

Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering global affairs.

Rome, Italy - The Vatican has disclosed that Pope Francis is no longer using an oxygen mask to breathe at night and his doctors believe he will continue to improve.

In the latest update on the pope’s health, the Vatican said in a statement on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, that Pope Francis is “improving” after spending more than one month in the hospital.

According to Al Jazeera, the statement added that while ventilation had been “suspended”, the pope still received oxygen via a small plastic tube under his nose.

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The Vatican wrote in a medical bulletin:

"The Holy Father's clinical conditions are confirmed to be improving."

He has "suspended non-invasive mechanical ventilation and also reduced the need for high-flow oxygen therapy", it said, adding that there was progress in the pope's motor and respiratory physiotherapy.

Legit.ng recalls that at the weekend, the Vatican said Pope Francis, still required therapies to be administered from the hospital.

After a series of breathing attacks earlier in the pope's hospital stay, his breathing has improved over the past week, with the Vatican on Monday, March 17, saying he was spending short moments breathing on his own.

During the day he has relied on a cannula -- a plastic tube tucked into his nostrils -- to deliver high-flow oxygen, which doctors are now reducing.

Until this week, Francis had worn an oxygen mask, but on Tuesday, March 18, the Vatican said he had managed without one for the first time.

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Pope Francis's illness and Easter celebration

The pope's illness and long spell in hospital have raised questions over who might lead the busy schedule of religious events leading up to Easter—the holiest period in the Christian calendar.

The Vatican's press office on Wednesday, March 18, said that no definite decisions had been taken yet in that regard.

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King Charles and wife to visit Pope Francis

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla would meet with Pope Francis during their upcoming state visit to Italy and the Vatican from April 7 to 10.

Despite the pontiff’s ongoing hospitalisation due to pneumonia, the announcement of this royal visit has been interpreted as an indication that the Vatican expects Pope Francis to recover sufficiently in the coming weeks.

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The highlight of the visit will be the Jubilee Year celebration, a Holy Year event observed every 25 years, with a focus on forgiveness and reconciliation.

Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng