Pope Francis‘s recovery from double pneumonia in hospital is entering its fourth week, with questions being raised about what the future of his papacy might look like.

The pontiff followed the opening of a spiritual retreat by videoconference yesterday, but could not be seen or heard by priests, bishops and cardinals in the Vatican auditorium.

The Pope remains in Rome’s Gemelli hospital, where he was admitted on February 14, ahead of the 12th anniversary of his election on Thursday.

In its early update Monday, the Vatican said Francis was resting after a quiet night.

At the time of his hospitalization last month, the 88-year-old pope, who has chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, had what was then just a bad case of bronchitis.

The infection progressed into a complex respiratory tract infection and double pneumonia that has sidelined Francis for the longest period of his papacy and prompted questions about the future.

He has remained in stable condition for over a week, with no fever, respiratory crises and good oxygen levels in his blood for several days, doctors reported.

The doctors said that such stability was in itself a positive thing and showed he was responding well to therapy.

But they kept his prognosis as ‘guarded,’ meaning that he’s not out of danger. Doctors were expected to provide a medical update later Monday.

The pontiff followed the opening of a spiritual retreat by videoconference yesterday, but could not be seen or heard (file image)

Faithful attend a Rosary prayer for the health of Pope Francis who is hospitalized with pneumonia, in St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City, March 9

A statement on the Pope’s X account yesterday read: ‘I think of the many people who find various ways to be close to the sick, becoming a sign of the Lord’s presence for them.

‘We need this ‘miracle of tenderness’ to accompany those who face adversity, in order to bring a little light into the night of pain.’

The Vatican will mark the pontiff’s election anniversary in his absence, making it the first anniversary celebration with him out of sight.

Francis was elected the 266th pope, the first Jesuit pope and first from Latin America, on March 13, 2013 following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI.

On Sunday, Francis met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin and the chief of staff, Archbishop Edgar Pena Parra, for the third time at the hospital.

Such meetings are the routine way the pope governs, and shows Francis is still keeping up with essential business.

While Francis has previously praised Benedict for his courage and humility in resigning, he has indicated more recently that he believes the job of pope is for life and said as recently as last year that he had no plans of stepping down.

The Pope remains in Rome’s Gemelli hospital, where he was admitted on February 14. Pictured: Faithful, priests and nuns pray outside yesterday

Francis has been using high flows of supplemental oxygen to help him breathe during the day and a noninvasive mechanical ventilation mask at night.

The Vatican is currently observing a weeklong spiritual retreat, with the Pope listening to the opening by the Rev. Roberto Pasolini from his hospital room yesterday.

Pasolini delivered a meditation on ‘The hope of eternal life,’ a theme that was chosen well before Francis was admitted.

The retreat, which is an annual gathering that kicks off the Catholic Church’s solemn Lenten season leading to Easter, continues through the week.

The Vatican has said Francis would participate ‘in spiritual communion’ with the rest of the hierarchy, from afar.

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The federal government has officially taken over Gombe General Hospital in Kumo and upgraded it to a Federal Medical Centre (FMC) to enhance healthcare services in the state and the North-East region.

In a statement on Sunday, Bayo Onanuga, the special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said the decision aims to strengthen medical service delivery and address maternal and neonatal mortality rates in the region.

The new Kumo FMC becomes the second federal medical institution in Gombe State, following the upgrade of the Federal Teaching Hospital from a medical center.

Onanuga revealed that Governor Inuwa Yahaya had formally requested the federal government’s takeover of the facility.

President Bola Tinubu approved the request, considering the poor maternal and neonatal health indices in the North-East and the state’s commitment to healthcare reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“The Kumo FMC will serve as a tertiary healthcare center, contribute to medical personnel training, and boost healthcare services in Gombe and the North-East region,” the statement added.

President Tinubu commended Governor Yahaya for prioritizing citizens’ health and stated that the takeover would significantly enhance healthcare service delivery in the state.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised concerns over the high rate of maternal deaths in Africa, with Nigeria among the most affected countries.

According to a newly released study, complications such as hemorrhage, severe bleeding, and hypertensive disorders, including preeclampsia, remain the leading causes of maternal deaths across the continent.

The report, published in The Lancet Global Health, revealed that in 2020 alone, an estimated 287,000 women worldwide died from pregnancy-related complications, with sub-Saharan Africa accounting for a significant portion of these deaths.

Nigeria, which has one of the highest maternal mortality rates globally, continues to face challenges in providing adequate healthcare for pregnant women, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

The WHO study found that excessive bleeding during or after childbirth was responsible for nearly one-third of maternal deaths, while hypertensive disorders, such as preeclampsia, accounted for an additional 16%. Other critical factors contributing to maternal deaths included infections, unsafe abortions, childbirth-related injuries, and a lack of access to emergency obstetric care.

Dr. Pascale Allotey, WHO’s Director of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, stressed that most of these deaths could be prevented with timely medical intervention and improved maternal healthcare services.

She highlighted the urgent need for African governments, including Nigeria, to strengthen key aspects of maternity care, such as antenatal services, skilled birth attendance, and emergency obstetric care.

In Nigeria, poor healthcare infrastructure, inadequate medical personnel, and financial constraints continue to limit access to essential maternal health services. Many women, particularly in rural areas, give birth at home without the assistance of trained healthcare providers, increasing the risk of complications and death. Additionally, a lack of awareness about preeclampsia and other pregnancy-related conditions often leads to delayed medical intervention.

Northern Nigeria continues to face one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, with thousands of women dying each year due to pregnancy-related complications.

The region, which accounts for a significant portion of Nigeria’s population, struggles with inadequate healthcare facilities, cultural barriers, poverty, and insecurity, all contributing to the high number of maternal deaths.

According to reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), Nigeria accounts for nearly 20 percent of global maternal deaths, with northern states experiencing the highest burden.

In states such as Kano, Sokoto, Zamfara, Jigawa, and Yobe, maternal mortality rates exceed 1,000 deaths per 100,000 live births, far above the national average of 512 deaths per 100,000 live births. Rural areas remain the most affected, with maternal deaths recorded at rates three to five times higher than in urban centers.

The leading causes of maternal deaths in the region include severe bleeding during childbirth, hypertensive disorders such as preeclampsia, infections, unsafe abortions, and complications from prolonged labor. Many of these deaths occur due to poor access to quality healthcare, as rural communities often lack functional health facilities, skilled birth attendants, and emergency obstetric services. Often, women must travel long distances to reach hospitals, a delay that often proves fatal.

WHO’s findings emphasized the importance of postnatal care, noting that most maternal deaths occur during or shortly after childbirth. Yet, in many African countries, including Nigeria, a significant percentage of women do not receive follow-up care within the first few days after delivery. This gap in healthcare services increases the risk of complications that could otherwise be managed with timely intervention.

Dr. Jenny Cresswell, a WHO scientist and co-author of the study, pointed out that multiple interrelated factors contribute to maternal mortality in Africa. For instance, conditions like preeclampsia can increase the likelihood of severe bleeding and other life-threatening complications long after childbirth. She called for a holistic approach to maternal health, emphasizing that access to quality healthcare before, during, and after pregnancy is essential to saving lives.

In 2024, WHO and its partners launched a global roadmap to combat postpartum hemorrhage, one of the leading causes of maternal death. The initiative aims to improve access to lifesaving medical treatments, particularly in low-resource settings like Nigeria. Furthermore, the 194 member states of the World Health Assembly recently passed a resolution committing to strengthening maternal and newborn healthcare services.

As part of its ongoing efforts, WHO has announced that World Health Day 2025 will focus on maternal and newborn health, calling for a significant scale-up of healthcare services in the poorest and most crisis-affected regions. The campaign will not only emphasize reducing maternal deaths but also advocate for improved postnatal care, mental health support, and access to quality reproductive health services for African women.