Pope Francis has pneumonia in both of his lungs, the Vatican has confirmed.
The pope has reportedly told close aides he fears he “might not make it this time” as he battles double-lung pneumonia at Rome’s Gemelli hospital.
Supporters have gathered outside the hospital to pray for the Pontiff. Outside the hospital on Wednesday, people were leaving flowers and small personal notes under a famous statue of John Paul II, wishing a speedy recovery for Francis.
Despite Vatican assurances that his condition is stable, sources claim the Pontiff is in intense pain and is now fully reliant on medical intervention, according to a report by Politico.
Since his health has been suffering over the past month, Pope Francis had also moved to complete several initiatives, including the appointment of sympathetic figures to key posts at the Vatican. The pontiff, on Saturday, also sped up the process to appoint a nun, Sister Raffaella Petrini, as the next and first woman governor of the Vatican City and announced that her term would begin on March 1.
In his apparent bid to have a friendly face play the role of the one who would defend his legacy, the Pope also on February 6 extended the term of the Italian cardinal Gioavanni Battista Re as dean of the College of Cardinals. Notably, the dean plays that role which oversees some preparations for a potential conclave, a secretive gathering that determines the selection of a new pope.
The 88-year-old was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Friday to undergo treatment and tests for bronchitis.
On Monday, the Vatican said the pontiff has a “polymicrobial infection” of his respiratory tract, which has required a change in his treatment. A later update added that the Pope was “proceeding with the prescribed treatment” in a stable condition and did not have a fever. He also undertook some work and reading while in hospital on Monday.
“The follow-up chest CT scan which the Holy Father underwent this afternoon… demonstrated the onset of bilateral pneumonia, which required additional drug therapy,” the Vatican said Tuesday.
It said lab tests, a chest X-ray and the Pope’s clinical condition “continue to present a complex picture”. Before his admission last week, the Pope had bronchitis symptoms for several days and had delegated officials to read prepared speeches at events.
Francis had part of his lung removed when he was 21 years old and training to be a priest in his native Argentina; this makes him especially prone to lung infections due to developing pleurisy as an adult.
Despite his hospitalisation, the pope has maintained his nightly routine since 9 October 2023 of telephone calls to the Holy Family church in Gaza.
“He was tired but had a clear voice,” Father Gabriel Romanelli told the Italian press after Monday night’s call. “He asked how we were and thanked us with prayers. At the end of the call he gave us his blessing.”
He had been due to lead several events over the weekend for the 2025 Catholic Holy Year which runs through to next January, however all public events on the pope’s calendar have been cancelled through to Sunday.
On Monday, the Vatican said that doctors had changed the pope’s drug therapy for the second time during his hospital stay.
During his 12 years as leader of the Roman Catholic church, Francis has been hospitalised several times including in March 2023 when he spent three nights in hospital with bronchitis.
(Agencies; Picture Courtesy: Reuters)
