Pope Francis, currently hospitalized with pneumonia, remains in a critical but stable condition, according to the Vatican. The 88-year-old pontiff has faced breathing difficulties and requires high levels of oxygen. Despite his illness, he continues to work from his hospital suite, attending to Church matters, approving canonizations, and communicating with clergy worldwide. Global prayers for his recovery have been widespread, with faithful leaving messages and lighting candles outside the hospital. Health experts caution that his recovery may take longer due to his age and existing health issues, including previous lung surgery and complications related to obesity and mobility.
Vatican City:
Pope Francis remains hospitalized with pneumonia affecting both lungs, and while he is in critical condition, his situation is stable, as reported by the Vatican on Tuesday.
Supporters worldwide are praying for the 88-year-old pope, hoping he may be beginning to improve as doctors caution that his recovery may be a lengthy journey.
“The Holy Father’s clinical condition remains critical but stable,” the Vatican announced on the evening of Francis’s 12th day in the papal suite at Rome’s Gemelli hospital.
“There have been no acute respiratory incidents, and hemodynamic parameters continue to be stable,” it stated, referring to important health indicators such as heart rate and blood pressure.
Admitted on February 14 due to breathing difficulties, the pope experienced asthmatic respiratory attacks over the weekend, necessitating high oxygen intake and blood transfusions to address anemia.
On Tuesday, “he underwent a scheduled follow-up CT scan in the evening for radiological monitoring of bilateral pneumonia,” according to the Vatican.
“The prognosis remains reserved,” it added.
Despite being in critical condition, the leader of the nearly 1.4 billion Catholics has been actively engaging with Church matters from his hospital room on the 10th floor of the Gemelli hospital, as reported by the Vatican.
“In the morning, after receiving the Eucharist, he resumed his work activities,” the statement disclosed.
– ‘Praying for you’ –
The Argentine pope also worked on Monday, meeting with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state.
Francis endorsed the canonization of two laypersons from Venezuela and Italy who passed away in the early 20th century, while also initiating the process for sainthood for three priests from the 19th century.
Additionally, he reached out to the parish priest of Gaza’s Catholic community, continuing his regular check-ins since the war began, the Vatican mentioned.
This conversation involved expressing gratitude for a video sent from the parish.
“The whole world is praying for you… and everyone wishes you good health,” the priest conveyed in the video, which was shared on Vatican News.
Outside the hospital, Catholics placed messages and lit candles, while a group held a banner proclaiming: “Today, more than ever, we need you Francis”.
Special prayers for the pope were held at an Argentine church in Rome on Tuesday evening, led by Italian Cardinal Baldassare Reina, with dozens in attendance.
Within the chapel of Our Lady of Lujan at Santa Maria Addolorata church, faithful were invited to write messages for Francis in a notebook, which would later be sent to him.
“Prayers are being sent from every part of the world… May it become a collective prayer to grant Pope Francis health and strength, empowering him to face this moment as he always has,” Reina remarked.
– ‘Breath of fresh air’ –
In Buenos Aires, where Jorge Bergoglio served as archbishop prior to becoming pope in 2013, hundreds gathered to pray for him.
Archbishop Jorge Garcia Cuerva spoke in the plaza where Bergoglio championed justice and equality, describing Francis’s papacy as “a breath of oxygen for a world choked by violence, selfishness, and exclusion.”
“Let our prayers serve as that breath of fresh air to fill his lungs, aiding in his recovery,” he urged.
Honduran Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, a former coordinator of the pope’s Council of Cardinals, expressed optimism in an interview with La Repubblica on Tuesday, believing the pope would persevere.
“It’s not his time to ascend to heaven just yet,” Maradiaga stated.
“He is someone who confronts challenges courageously, never gets discouraged, and continues to move forward,” he added.
– Recovery time –
Medical professionals have indicated that any recovery will require time, with Francis likely to remain hospitalized for an extended period.
The pope, who had part of one lung removed in his youth, has faced increasing health issues over the years.
He is susceptible to respiratory infections, carries excess weight, and experiences knee and hip pain that necessitate the use of a wheelchair.
Massimo Andreoni, scientific director of the Italian Society of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, explained that it generally takes a young adult at least two weeks to recover from double pneumonia.
“For an elderly individual like Pope Francis, with additional complications… a complete recovery will take even longer,” Andreoni advised.
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