Pope Francis, who has been admitted to the Gemelli Hospital in Rome for three weeks with a pneumonia that does not finish healing, has made his voice heard for the first time in a brief audio message sent to the faithful gathered in the Plaza de San Pedro to pray the Rosary, as every night at 9:00 p.m. He has spoken in Spanish, but his voice was fragile and fatigued, and has given the dimension of the condition of his illness: “I appreciate with all my heart the prayers they do for my health from the square, I accompany them from here. May God bless you and let the Virgin take care of them. Thank you”.
Despite the apprehension caused by the message, the truth is that the statement on Thursday afternoon, broadcast at 19.34, contained dose of optimism. The Pope continues to recover from his bilateral pneumonia, and, above all, there is a novelty that is a sample of confidence of doctors in the recovery of the pontiff. They announce for the first time that “given the stability of the clinical picture, the next medical bulletin will spread on Saturday.” That is, this Friday there will be no part, unless unforeseen, because it is estimated that there will be no reviewable news, a prognosis never advanced so far.
Since February 14, when he was admitted, the Vatican has always issued a medical part to seven in the afternoon, plus a brief communication in the morning, in a policy of desire for transparency imposed by the Pope. But after three weeks of continuous information and media attention to the minimum details, it has been valued that, for the moment, it is no longer necessary to maintain this rhythm.
The last respiratory crisis, of the four that the Pontiff has suffered, without new relapses. In the part of this Thursday there is no mention of a complex situation, as in previous days, but the prognosis remains reserved.
However, the enumeration of signs that points the part of this Thursday is positive: “The clinical conditions of the Holy Father have remained stable with respect to the previous days. Nor has it presented episodes of respiratory failure today. The Holy Father has continued with beneficial results respiratory and motor physiotherapy. Hemodynamic parameters and blood tests have remained stable. He has not presented fever. ”
The statement also details that the Pontiff “has dedicated himself to some work activities during the morning and afternoon, alternating rest and prayer.” This morning, the Vatican had pointed out that the Pope had spent a “quiet” night, assisted with non -invasive mechanical ventilation, as planned. Upon waking, he went to high flow oxygenation with nasal cannulas.
At the moment, Vatican Fuentes have been very prudent these days for a still complex situation in which the Pope, they have reiterated, is not out of danger and could suffer new respiratory crises. The Pontiff has suffered four critical episodes that have complicated their recovery. It was admitted on February 14 with a bronchitis that had been dragging for at least 10 days; a more serious disease, and although it seemed to overcome it, on the 22nd it crossed the worst crisis. It was a prolonged asthmatic crisis, with symptoms of anemia that forced a transfusion and with a mild initial renal failure.
The Pope left the “critical phase” last Thursday and when he seemed recovered ,. It was considered an isolated episode, but made new complications fear because it aspired vomiting and ran the risk of developing a new infection. After 48 hours, on Sunday, doctors considered that there was no danger. However, this Monday suffered “two episodes of acute respiratory failure, caused by an important accumulation of endobronchial mucus and consequent bronchospasm.” They were taken over at the end of the day.
For now, no one makes forecasts on the recovery times of Bergoglio and is assumed, if everything goes well, a long stay in the Gemelli. At least, several weeks. The scenario is the one summarized by doctors in their only press conference, on February 21: the life of the Pope “is not in danger, but is not out of danger” and “little is enough to unbalance it.” Since then, the doctors have not appeared before the media. The Vatican has not yet clarified when there will be a new encounter with journalists.
This situation of fragility of the Pope, however, has always been combined with messages of a certain tranquility of the Vatican. He explained that Bergoglio has remained without a fever, has always been aware, has never been intubated, eat normally and his heart “is strong.” Sometimes he gets up and passes sitting. Since it was admitted, it has also maintained a minimum work rate and the Holy See has announced appointments and other decisions that require the signing of the Pope. Also this Thursday, for example, the new bishop of Albacete, Ángel Román Idigoras has been announced. That is, Bergoglio is launching the message that follows and continues to rule the church from the hospital.
