“The night passed peacefully,” the Holy See Press Office announced this morning, March 13, providing an update on the Pope’s health. He has been hospitalized at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome since February 14. As always, the medical bulletin will likely not be published this afternoon, but the Press Office will provide some general information to journalists.

Also, this morning, Pope Francis followed the spiritual exercises led by Capuchin Father Roberto Pasolini in the Paul VI Hall via videoconference. He then prayed in the chapel near his room and continued with the prescribed therapies, including drug therapy and active motor therapy. After non-invasive mechanical ventilation overnight, he was switched to high-flow oxygenation with nasal cannulas this morning. Hundreds of messages arrived at the Vatican from schools, associations, and religious institutes, and children and young people were brought to the Pope.

In the afternoon, after Father Pasolini’s Lenten meditation, at 6:00 p.m., the Rosary will be recited, presided over by Monsignor Filippo Iannone, Prefect of the Dicastery for Legislative Texts. Tomorrow afternoon, the Rosary for the Pope will return to St. Peter’s Square but will be moved to 7:30 p.m. This Friday morning, March 14, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin will preside over the Mass in suffrage for the Pope at 10:30 a.m. in the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace, in the presence of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See.

Yesterday’s Medical Bulletin

“The Holy Father’s clinical condition, despite the complexity of his overall condition, has remained stable. The chest X-ray performed yesterday confirmed the improvements seen in recent days. The Holy Father continues to receive high-flow oxygen therapy during the day and non-invasive mechanical ventilation at night. This morning, after following the Spiritual Exercises in connection with the Paul VI Hall, he received the Eucharist, dedicated himself to prayer, and then to motor physiotherapy. In the afternoon, after following the Spiritual Exercises of the Curia, he continued with prayer, rest, and respiratory physiotherapy.”

Regarding the information published today about a possible trip by the Pope to Nicaea in May, the Vatican Press Office has clarified that this trip is being studied, but that it has not been announced at any time.