Vatican announces that Pope Francis has bilateral pneumonia

The Vatican announced Tuesday that Pope Francis has developed bilateral pneumonia. The updated diagnosis means that pneumonia is in both of his lungs; the 88-year-old pontiff was admitted to hospital for a respiratory tract infection on Feb. 14 after two weeks of what Francis repeatedly referred to as bronchitis.

On Feb. 17, a Vatican press release said that test results revealed a “polymicrobial infection” and that due to the “complex” clinical situation, he would require further hospitalization.  The updated Vatican statement released at 7:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday evening (Feb. 18) revealed that “laboratory tests and chest X-rays continue to reveal a complex medical picture. The chest CT scan that the Holy Father underwent this afternoon … demonstrated the onset of bilateral pneumonia that required further pharmacological therapy.” The statement noted that the 88-year-old pontiff is in good spirits, and that he received the Eucharist earlier in the day.