Italy Vatican: Francis spends quiet night after relapse
According to official reports, Pope Francis spent a night without any additional complications after his new severe attack of shortness of breath. "The night passed calmly. The Pope is resting," said a brief statement from the hospital. The Vatican did not officially provide any further information on the 88-year-old's state of health. Those close to him said that there had been no new crisis. The case remains "complex".
01.03.2025, 12:54
SDA
The day before, the head of the Catholic Church had suffered a bronchospasm in the afternoon after a few days of slight improvement at the Gemelli Clinic in Rome, according to the Vatican: The muscles in his airways cramped, which led to a "sudden deterioration in his breathing". The Pope vomited several times, swallowed vomit and was then temporarily given mechanical ventilation. He suffers from severe pneumonia on both sides.
Vatican: No other organs affected
Regarding the further outlook, the Vatican stated: "The prognosis remains guarded." However, no organs other than the lungs have been affected so far. Those close to the Argentinian-born man referred to a diagnosis made last week by the doctors treating him, according to which the Argentinian-born man is not out of danger. This is still the case, they said.
The head of 1.4 billion Catholics has been receiving treatment at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome since February 14, after having had an infection for two months. According to the doctors, Francis is suffering from pneumonia with various pathogens. In addition, he has been missing part of his right lung since an operation at a young age. Last weekend, he was already in severe respiratory distress. Doctors consider pneumonia at such an advanced age to be very dangerous.
Additional oxygen via mask on mouth and nose
Sources close to Francis also said that it may not be known until Sunday how much the new attack will affect his state of health. At the same time, it was emphasized that Francis had not been given artificial respiration at any time. He was reportedly given the urgently needed additional oxygen via a mask on his mouth and nose. It was also reported that Francis then had a normal breakfast and read the newspaper in the morning.
The usual Sunday prayer, for which the pontiff stands in a window of the Apostolic Palace in front of tens of thousands of faithful in St. Peter's Square, has therefore been canceled for the third Sunday in a row. Francis has never appeared in public since being admitted to the university hospital. He is usually represented by high-ranking cardinals.
The last time an Italian pope was present was in 1978
The Vatican has emphasized several times in recent days that the Pope is also working from the hospital. The number two of the church state, the Italian Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, also takes care of day-to-day business in the Vatican. The 70-year-old's name is always mentioned when there is speculation about possible successors. Other Italians are also being discussed, as well as cardinals from other parts of the world.
The Argentinian was elected head of the Church in March 2013 as the successor to German Pope Benedict XVI. He is now the second oldest pope in history. Benedict lived in the Vatican as Pope Emeritus for almost ten years after his surprising resignation. Born in Bavaria to Joseph Ratzinger, he died on New Year's Eve 2022 at the age of 95. The last time an Italian stood at the head of the Catholic Church was in 1978: John Paul I, who died after just 33 days in office.
