John Paul II's hospital stays at Gemelli were much longer than Pope Francis' so far. Here's a look

Well, the Pope's health still remains firmly in the balance tonight. On Tuesday, the Vatican saying that Francis is in *** stable condition, but he will overnight be on *** non-invasive ventilator, providing him with. Oxygen Francis did not have any respiratory crises on Tuesday. We're told. He did not resume work and of course this comes after *** number or two crises on Monday. Now in the Vatican there's still obviously *** lot of concern about the Pope's condition. He's in his 19th day of hospitalization. At the Ji Hospital battling pneumonia in both of his lungs, *** Vatican source saying that his recent crises and spasms, bronchial spasms are to be expected given his condition. But I've spoken to *** medical expert who says that the Pope's condition is like *** fire in your house. You can put the fire out, but it's the long term damage that is the question. It is still very uncertain how long the Pope will be in hospital and what the prognosis is that remains, the Vatican said tonight, reserved, too soon to tell. Now tomorrow is the start of Lent, the preparation that the Catholic Church makes for Easter, the high point of the church's liturgical year. Tomorrow, the Pope will not be leading the Ash Wednesday service that will be presided over by *** Vatican cardinal. Behind me prayers were said for Pope Francis on Tuesday night, as they have been said every evening in St. Peter's during these recent days. Of course those prayers being said beneath the balcony of St. Peter's where the Pope, almost 12 years to the day, appeared for the first time after his election, and at that moment he asked the people to pray for him. And that is exactly what they are doing now for Francis as he continues his treatment for pneumonia in the hospital. We are expecting *** further update from the Vatican on Wednesday morning. Christopher Lamb, CNN, Rome.

Pope Francis has spent 19 full days at Rome's Gemelli hospital recovering from double pneumonia. It's by far the longest hospitalization of his 12-year papacy, and there is no indication how long it may still last.Video above: Vatican says the Pope's condition remains complexBut it doesn't come close to approaching the record-long stays of St. John Paul II during his quarter-century pontificate.John Paul spent so much time on the 10th floor papal suite that he referred to Gemelli as "Vatican III" — a reference that beyond the primary seat of the papacy in Vatican City, the Polish pope also spent considerable time at the papal summer retreat in Castel Gandolfo, hence Vatican II.Francis hasn't used Castel Gandolfo at all or spent any time outside the Vatican on vacation, making Gemelli increasingly his home away from home. He has started signing off documents that he issues from there "From the Gemelli Polyclinic." Pope Benedict XVI, for his part, was never hospitalized at Gemelli as pope.Prior to his Feb. 14 admission, Francis had been hospitalized three times at Gemelli: For 10 days from July 4-14, 2021, for abdominal surgery to remove 13 inches of his large intestine; three days from March 29-April 1, 2023 for pneumonia; and nine days from June 7-16, 2023 for abdominal surgery to remove scar tissue and repair an abdominal hernia.Gemelli maintains a permanent exhibit in its lobby dedicated to John Paul's hospitalizations, named its chapel after him and erected a statue in his likeness at the entrance — a statue that has now become a pilgrimage destination for people praying for Francis.Here's a look at John Paul's hospitalizations during his 1978-2005 papacy, according to the Gemelli hospital.May 13-June 3, 1981 — 20 daysJohn Paul was hospitalized after the assassination attempt by Mehmet Ali Ağca in St. Peter's Square. The pope was wounded by gunshots in his abdomen and hand.June 20-Aug. 14, 1981 — 55 daysIn his longest hospitalization, John Paul underwent a minor surgical operation and was then treated for a "cytomegalovirus" infection.July 15-July 29, 1992 — 14 daysJohn Paul underwent urgent colonic resection for a large benign polyp.July 2, 1993 — A few hoursJohn Paul had a series of routine tests.Nov. 11-Nov. 12, 1993 — 1 dayJohn Paul underwent surgery for a dislocated shoulder after he stumbled and fell in the Hall of Blessings in the Vatican.April 29-May 27, 1994 — 28 daysJohn Paul had surgery to repair his right hip joint after he fractured his right femur in a fall.Oct. 8-Oct. 15, 1996 — 5 daysThe pope underwent an appendectomy.Feb. 1-Feb. 10, 2005 — 10 daysJohn Paul was initially hospitalized as a precaution. Then, the strong flu he had contracted caused an acute laryngotracheitis with episodes of laryngospasm and respiratory failure.Feb. 24-March 13, 2005 – 18 daysRespiratory problems returned after the flu came back. John Paul underwent an "elective tracheostomy" to ensure adequate ventilation.After 18 days of hospitalization, John Paul returned to the Apostolic Palace on March 13. He died in his apartment there on April 2, 2005 at age 84, following several breathing and swallowing problems during his final days.

Video above: Vatican says the Pope's condition remains complex

But it doesn't come close to approaching the record-long stays of St. John Paul II during his quarter-century pontificate.

John Paul spent so much time on the 10th floor papal suite that he referred to Gemelli as "Vatican III" — a reference that beyond the primary seat of the papacy in Vatican City, the Polish pope also spent considerable time at the papal summer retreat in Castel Gandolfo, hence Vatican II.

Francis hasn't used Castel Gandolfo at all or spent any time outside the Vatican on vacation, making Gemelli increasingly his home away from home. He has started signing off documents that he issues from there "From the Gemelli Polyclinic." Pope Benedict XVI, for his part, was never hospitalized at Gemelli as pope.

Prior to his Feb. 14 admission, Francis had been hospitalized three times at Gemelli: For 10 days from July 4-14, 2021, for abdominal surgery to remove 13 inches of his large intestine; three days from March 29-April 1, 2023 for pneumonia; and nine days from June 7-16, 2023 for abdominal surgery to remove scar tissue and repair an abdominal hernia.

Gemelli maintains a permanent exhibit in its lobby dedicated to John Paul's hospitalizations, named its chapel after him and erected a statue in his likeness at the entrance — a statue that has now become a pilgrimage destination for people praying for Francis.

Here's a look at John Paul's hospitalizations during his 1978-2005 papacy, according to the Gemelli hospital.

May 13-June 3, 1981 — 20 days

John Paul was hospitalized after the assassination attempt by Mehmet Ali Ağca in St. Peter's Square. The pope was wounded by gunshots in his abdomen and hand.

June 20-Aug. 14, 1981 — 55 days

In his longest hospitalization, John Paul underwent a minor surgical operation and was then treated for a "cytomegalovirus" infection.

July 15-July 29, 1992 — 14 days

John Paul underwent urgent colonic resection for a large benign polyp.

July 2, 1993 — A few hours

John Paul had a series of routine tests.

Nov. 11-Nov. 12, 1993 — 1 day

John Paul underwent surgery for a dislocated shoulder after he stumbled and fell in the Hall of Blessings in the Vatican.

April 29-May 27, 1994 — 28 days

John Paul had surgery to repair his right hip joint after he fractured his right femur in a fall.

Oct. 8-Oct. 15, 1996 — 5 days

The pope underwent an appendectomy.

Feb. 1-Feb. 10, 2005 — 10 days

John Paul was initially hospitalized as a precaution. Then, the strong flu he had contracted caused an acute laryngotracheitis with episodes of laryngospasm and respiratory failure.

Feb. 24-March 13, 2005 – 18 days

Respiratory problems returned after the flu came back. John Paul underwent an "elective tracheostomy" to ensure adequate ventilation.

After 18 days of hospitalization, John Paul returned to the Apostolic Palace on March 13. He died in his apartment there on April 2, 2005 at age 84, following several breathing and swallowing problems during his final days.

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