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Pope Francis has spent his second night in hospital after being treated with antibiotics for bronchitis. The night has been calm, the Vatican says.
It is still unclear whether the Pope will be able to participate in the Easter celebration.
The 86-year-old pope was hospitalized in Rome on Wednesday after his regular audience in St. Peter’s Square. He had then had difficulty breathing for a few days. However, the antibiotic treatment the Pope is receiving has led to a “marked” improvement in his health, the Vatican has announced.
The Pope’s illness came four days before Palm Sunday, when the tradition-laden Easter celebrations in the Vatican begin. The Vatican has not said when the pope will be released from the hospital, but has said that depending on his recovery, it could happen “within the next few days.”
It is unclear whether the Pope will be able to lead or attend the Easter ceremonies. Among them is a demanding procession during Good Friday evening, which is traditionally followed by a long speech by the Pope from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
As a 21-year-old, Pope Francis underwent an operation in 1957 that involved the removal of part of one of his lungs. The Argentine Pope also suffers from chronic knee pain.