Pope Francis' health was so precarious during his recent 38-day hospital stay that his doctors considered halting treatment at one point, allowing him to pass away peacefully, according to the head of his medical team.
The pope, 88, was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on February 14 with a severe case of bronchitis that developed into double pneumonia, a particularly dangerous condition for him due to his medical history, which includes pleurisy and the removal of part of one lung in his youth.
Dr. Sergio Alfieri, who led the pope’s medical care, described a critical moment on February 28 when Francis suffered a breathing crisis and nearly choked on his vomit. "There was a real risk he might not make it," Alfieri said in an interview with Italy’s Corriere della Sera. The doctors faced a difficult decision: either cease treatment and let the pope pass or continue with aggressive therapies that carried the risk of damaging his other organs.
Ultimately, the decision was made to push forward with treatment. Alfieri recounted that the pope's personal nurse, Massimiliano Strappetti, played a pivotal role in urging the medical team to keep fighting for the pope’s recovery. "Try everything; don't give up," Strappetti said, encouraging the team to continue despite the risks.
For days, Francis' medical team faced significant challenges, including concerns about potential damage to his kidneys and bone marrow from the medications. However, the pope's body eventually responded, and his lung infection began to improve. After a period of intense care, Pope Francis was able to return to the Vatican on Sunday, marking his first public appearance since his hospitalization.
Alfieri described the moment the pope appeared on the hospital balcony to greet well-wishers as an emotional milestone in his recovery. "I saw him leave the room on the 10th floor of the Gemelli dressed in white," the doctor said. "It was the emotion of seeing the man become again the pope."
Pope Francis has been prescribed a two-month period of rest to fully recuperate, although it remains unclear how often he will be seen in public over the coming weeks. The pope's health crisis has marked the most serious health scare of his 12-year papacy.
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