In its latest health update released on Friday, the Vatican said the pope’s condition remained stable with “minor improvements in breathing and mobility”.
It confirmed he had not used mechanical ventilation for help with breathing at night since Monday, but was rather receiving oxygen via a small hose under his nose for much of the time.
There is still no official word on when he might return home to the Vatican and Fernandez said he did not know if he would be discharged in time for Easter, which falls on Apr 20.
“He could return, but the doctors want to be 100 per cent sure because he believes that with the little time he has left, he wants to dedicate himself entirely to others, not to himself,” Fernandez said.
Asked if he thought Francis might step down, the cardinal said: “I really don’t think so, no.”
Pope Francis has experienced several bouts of ill health over the last two years and is prone to lung infections because he had pleurisy as a young adult and had part of one lung removed.
