Third and fourth respiratory crisis, two in one day, of Pope Francis, in the Altibajos picture that is marking the slow and fragile recovery of his pneumonia, since he was admitted to the Gemelli Hospital in Rome, on February 14. The medical part of the afternoon of this Monday, issued at 18.55, reveals that the 88 -year -old Pontiff has presented today “two episodes of acute respiratory failure, caused by important accumulation of endobronchial mucus and consequent bronchospasm.” On February 22 he suffered the most serious crisis, and when he seemed recovered, he had a bronchospasm last Friday, which was considered isolated.
This afternoon’s statement explains that “two bronchoscopies were held in need of aspiration of abundant secretions” and in the afternoon the non -invasive mechanical ventilation resumed, which the Pope had abandoned on Saturday. It is not intubated, it means that you breathe with a mask. The Vatican states that Jorge Mario Bergoglio “has remained conscious, oriented and collaborator.” “The prognosis is still reserved,” he concludes, without talking about his conditions being critical, phase that was taken over on Thursday.
This morning the signals were positive, after tracing the, as pointed out by the last medical part of Sunday afternoon. That medical bulletin indicated that “the clinical conditions of the Holy Father have also remained stable today,” for the second consecutive day. It was thus satisfactorily fulfilled to determine whether the Broncoospasm on Friday had worsened or not the general picture, because it had led to vomiting that had entered the respiratory tract and ran the risk of a new infection. “There have been no direct consequences,” Vatican Fuentes said. In the statement on Monday, no mention has been made to wait again to see if the picture has aggravated, although this time the medical part does not speak of vomiting.
Today’s two new complications further reinforce the feeling of prudence that the parties transmit, since these 18 days of hospitalization have already shown that Francisco’s health is fragile. As the medical team said in his only press conference, on February 21, the life of the Pope “is not in danger, but is not out of danger” and “is enough to unbalance it.” In fact, the next day the most serious crisis occurred. Since then, the doctors have not appeared before the media. The Vatican has not yet clarified if at any time there will be a new encounter with journalists.
This situation of “complexity” and the risk of respiratory crisis at any time is combined with messages of apparent normality of the Vatican. Bergoglio has remained these days without a fever, he has always been normally aware. He gets up and moves through the apartment where he stays, on the tenth of the hospital. It is also performing respiratory physiotherapy, which is considered another step in the slow path of recovery.
Since he was admitted he has been working almost every day and, although on Saturday he rested, on Sunday morning he received the Secretary of State of the Holy See, Pietro Parolin, and his right hand, Edgar Peña Parra, substitute for general affairs, the person in charge of the internal affairs of the Vatican. Almost daily, appointments and other decisions that require the signing of the Pope have been announced.
