Pope Francis is gradually regaining strength during his hospitalization but must "relearn to speak" after prolonged use of high-flow oxygen therapy, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez said on Friday, according to Reuters, as reported by News.ro.
Fernandez, who leads the Vatican's doctrinal office, dismissed speculation that the 88-year-old pontiff might resign, emphasizing that he is recovering.
"The Pope is doing very well, but the high-flow oxygen dries everything out. He has to learn to speak again, but his general physical condition is the same as before," Fernandez said during a presentation of a new book by Pope Francis on poetry.
Francis has been hospitalized for five weeks due to double pneumonia.
The Vatican has provided limited updates on his condition, with the only public audio recording since his hospitalization released on March 6. In the clip, the pope’s voice sounded weak, breathless, and difficult to understand.
In its most recent health update on Friday, the Vatican stated that the pope remains stable, with "minor improvements in breathing and mobility." Since Monday, he has no longer required a ventilator at night but continues to receive oxygen through a nasal tube most of the time.
There is no official word on when he might be discharged, and Fernandez admitted he is uncertain if Francis will be able to return in time for Easter on April 20. “He could return, but the doctors want to be 100 percent sure, because he believes that in the little time he has left, he wants to dedicate himself entirely to others, not to himself,” Fernandez said.
When asked whether Francis might consider stepping down, Fernandez responded, "I really don't think so, no."
The pope has faced several health challenges in recent years and remains vulnerable to lung infections, having undergone surgery in his youth to remove part of a lung due to pleurisy.
