ISTANBUL 

Pope Francis spent Sunday calmly after a respiratory crisis and deterioration in his breathing earlier in the week and his condition is stabilizing, according to the Vatican.

The Vatican released a statement on the condition of the 88-year-old spiritual leader of the Catholic Church and head of state of Vatican City who has been hospitalized at Gemelli Hospital in Rome for 17 days due after contracting severe bronchitis in mid-February and was diagnosed with double pneumonia, with both of his lungs affected.

“Today, too, the Holy Father's clinical condition has remained stable. The Pope has not required non-invasive mechanical ventilation but only supplemental high-flow oxygenation. He does not have a fever,” it said.

“This morning, the Holy Father participated in Holy Mass, together with those who have been caring for him during these days of hospitalization. Afterward, he alternated rest with prayer,” the Vatican added.

The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, confirmed that the Pope received Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and the Substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, who came for a visit.

Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected as Pope Benedict XVI's successor at the age of 76 on March 13, 2013 and took the name Francis.

Timeline of Pope’s hospitalization

The pontiff has been hospitalized since Feb. 14 and is being treated for double pneumonia.

The Vatican announced on Feb. 18 that the pope developed double pneumonia and his clinical condition was complicated.

A Feb. 21 statement said doctors indicated Francis's life was not in immediate danger, although he was not completely out of danger.

One day later, his condition was said to be critical after he suffered a “prolonged asthma-like respiratory crisis.”

On Feb. 24, the Vatican said that although Francis's health remained critical, a slight improvement was observed, and on Feb. 25, it described the situation as critical but stable.

On Feb. 26 and 27, the Vatican reported that the Pope's condition had improved.

In a statement late Friday, the Vatican said the Pope underwent broncho-aspiration due to a bronchospasm crisis and that non-invasive mechanical ventilation was initiated to ensure gas exchange -- adequate intake of oxygen and adequate removal of carbon dioxide -- and the treatment received a positive response.

Since Saturday, the Pope has been stable, while the prognosis remains guarded.

Francis was admitted to Gemelli Hospital for the first time in 2021 where he underwent colon surgery.

The Pope, who has been using a wheelchair in recent years due to pain in his knee, was treated at the hospital twice in 2023 -- once for a respiratory issue causing shortness of breath, likely related to bronchitis, and another time for abdominal surgery to repair a hernia, which involved placing a prosthesis on his abdominal wall.