Last Friday (14), 88-year-old pontiff was hospitalized due to a bronchitis and later received the diagnosis of bilateral pneumonia
O hospitalized since last week for pneumonia in both lungs, passed “a quiet night”, raised and tried to work, the Holy See, a day after announcing a slight improvement in the health state of pontiff. “The night was quiet, the Pope got up and had breakfast in a armchair,” the Vatican said in a brief statement.
Francisco, 88, was admitted to the Gemelli Hospital of Rome due to a bronchitis last Friday, but on Tuesday, the Holy See announced that it was diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia. Sources of They stated that, despite the disease, the Pope remains informed and tries to work, reading and signing documents, writing and talking to his employees.
On Wednesday, the Holy See explained that blood tests “show a slight improvement, in particular the indicators” of inflammation. The announcement that the Pope has pneumonia – a potentially fatal pulmonary tissue infection – has increased concern for the health of the Catholic Church leader. The diagnosis is complex because the Argentine Jesuit had part of his right lung removed in his youth.
The restlessness of the health of the Pope increased after the spread of false news on social networks, particularly in the X, which reported Francis’ death in several languages. The closest employees to Pontiff and the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited him on Wednesday.
According to the head of government, who spent 20 minutes with Francisco, the Pope was “alert and receptive.” Meloni said he “played” with him. “It has not lost its famous sense of humor,” said the far -right ruler.
A Vatican source said on Wednesday that the Pope could get up and sit in a armchair. Breathe without the assistance of appliances, but doctors do not rule out that you need help at some point. The Pope canceled the appointments scheduled for this week, including an audience on Saturday and Sunday Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica.
But it has not yet been announced if he will pronounce Angelus at noon after Sunday Mass, which will be celebrated by a cardinal. “We still don’t know how it will be done,” said Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni. François Mabille, researcher at the Institute of International and Strategic Relations (Iris), and director of the religious geopolitical observatory, said the Vatican is now in “a kind of limbo.” “We have a Pope who is sick but who is alive, who can speak. There is uncertainty that weakens the Pope and the Holy See, which is to know what will be of his health, ”he told AFP.
In front of GEMELLI Hospital, many faithful approached to light candles with Francisco’s face, as a sign of support. The Church has asked all Catholics in the world to pray for the Pope’s health. In São Pedro do Vaticano Square, Suzanna Munteanu, a Romanian tourist, told AFP on Thursday that he is concerned with Francisco, but believes in recovery.
“I love this Pope […] It’s very dear, especially because it cares about poor people, and I hope it recovers quickly, ”he said. Despite frequent health problems in recent years -among them hips, knee pain that forces him to move in a wheelchair, operations and respiratory infections -Argentine Jorge Bergoglio kept a full agenda and stated that he has no intention of to reduce the pace of work. Doctors insist that he should stop the activities a little.
The Pope’s hospitalization, the fourth in less than four years, caused the resumption of the debate on his health, especially since the hospitalization takes place at the beginning of the jubilating year of the Catholic Church, which means a long list of events, many of them chaired by the Pope . Prior to hospitalization on Friday, Francisco seemed weakened in public ceremonies, his face swollen and his voice. He delegated to the assistants on several occasions to read the speeches. In 2023, the Pope was hospitalized for three days due to bronchitis.
*With information from AFP
Posted by Victor Oliveira
