Pope Francis’s ninth night in hospital was peaceful, the Vatican said Sunday, the day after revealing the 88-year-old was in a “critical” condition.
Sunday morning’s update from the Vatican was brief, saying: “The night passed peacefully, the pope rested.”
In a statement released on February 22, the Vatican said the Pope had “a prolonged episode of asthma-like shortness of breath” in the morning, which required him to receive “high-flow oxygen.” In addition to supplemental oxygen, the Pope also received a blood transfusion after tests showed he had low platelets. The statement said the Pope is currently in critical condition.
This is the first time the Vatican has used the word “critical” when describing the Pope’s health condition since he was admitted to hospital on February 14 after suffering from breathing difficulties for several days. X-rays later showed that the Pope had pneumonia.
As of February 23, Pope Francis had spent his ninth consecutive night in the hospital. A Vatican statement released on Sunday morning confirmed that he continued treatment for double pneumonia at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.
During a press conference, Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the head of the Pope’s medical team, and Dr. Luigi Carbone, the Vice-Director of Vatican healthcare services, addressed journalists for approximately forty minutes.
They noted that the Pope was expected to remain hospitalized for at least another week. While they reassured the public that he was not in immediate danger of death, they emphasized that he was also not fully out of danger.
Dr. Alfieri clarified that Pope Francis was not on a ventilator but continued to struggle with breathing, requiring him to limit physical movement.
Despite this, he remained engaged and continued his work. In a lighthearted exchange, when a doctor greeted him by saying, “Hello, Holy Father,” the Pope reportedly responded with, “Hello, Holy Son.”
Medical experts expressed their primary concern regarding the risk of a bacterial infection entering his bloodstream, which could lead to sepsis.
However, Dr. Alfieri remained optimistic that Pope Francis would eventually be discharged and return to Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican. He cautioned, however, that the Pope’s chronic respiratory issues would persist even after his hospital stay.
According to sources familiar with the situation, Pope Francis has been enduring severe pain and has privately conveyed doubts about his chances of recovery.
On Sunday, doctors at Gemelli Hospital made the difficult decision to prevent him from delivering his usual morning Angelus sermon—a rare occurrence, even during previous hospital stays. Insiders say the Pope is now strictly following medical directives, a significant shift from his usual determination to maintain his routine.
This is not the first time Pope Francis has faced serious health challenges. In March 2023, he was hospitalized for several days due to a respiratory infection.
The Vatican revealed that he had been experiencing breathing difficulties and was admitted to Gemelli Hospital for medical tests. Doctors ruled out COVID-19 but determined that he required an extended hospital stay for specialized treatment.
During his recovery, the Pope expressed his gratitude for the support and prayers he received from around the world. A few months later, in June 2023, he was again hospitalized, this time for abdominal surgery to address a painful incisional hernia.
The condition, a result of previous operations, had been causing intestinal blockages. He remained in the hospital for nine days before returning to the Vatican, choosing to enter discreetly through a side gate without stopping for the reporters gathered outside.
Source: news.amomama.com; abs-cbn.com