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.
After spending 38 days in hospital battling double pneumonia, Pope Francis made his first public appearance on Sunday since February 14 and returned to the Vatican.
Pope Francis has welcomed the progress in the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan. He described the steps taken toward peace in the South Caucasus as a "sign of hope" and emphasized that this process could serve as an example for resolving other conflicts.
Pope Francis appeared publicly for the first time in more than five weeks on Sunday, offering a brief wave from a balcony at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital before leaving the facility.
Pope Francis will be discharged from the hospital on Sunday after 38 days of treatment for life-threatening pneumonia. Doctors report steady recovery, though he will require two months of rest and rehabilitation.
Pope Francis will make his first public appearance in five weeks on Sunday, offering a blessing from his hospital window as he recovers from double pneumonia.
Signal president Meredith Whittaker has defended the platform’s security after senior Trump administration officials mistakenly included a journalist in a private Signal group chat discussing U.S. military action against Yemen’s Houthis.
At least 15 people have died as wildfires continue to ravage South Korea’s southeastern region, Yonhap News Agency reported on Wednesday.
Russia and Ukraine have agreed to suspend attacks on key energy infrastructure for 30 days, according to a statement published by the Kremlin on Tuesday.
The Department of Energy (DOE) has instructed its employees to label documents related to the agency’s review of grants and contracts under the controversial DOGE initiative with "legal privilege," in a bid to prevent them from being disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
OpenAI has unveiled significant updates to its Advanced Voice Mode feature for ChatGPT, making its AI voice assistant more personable and responsive to user needs.
Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated on Thursday that purchasing U.S. weapons does not pose a security risk for his country, but emphasized the need for Europe to reduce its reliance on American defense systems. His comments come amid growing discussions within Europe.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams completed an unexpectedly long 286-day mission on the ISS, returning to Earth aboard a SpaceX capsule after delays caused by technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner.
Mexican forces have dismantled a massive meth lab in Zacatecas, dealing a blow to a Sinaloa Cartel faction.
Serbia’s parliament has officially accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Milos Vucevic, setting a 30-day deadline for the formation of a new government or the calling of snap elections.
A devastating overnight drone attack on Kyiv, attributed to Russian forces, resulted in the deaths of three people, including a five-year-old child, and left ten others injured.
Signal president Meredith Whittaker has defended the platform’s security after senior Trump administration officials mistakenly included a journalist in a private Signal group chat discussing U.S. military action against Yemen’s Houthis.
Russia and Ukraine have agreed to suspend attacks on key energy infrastructure for 30 days, according to a statement published by the Kremlin on Tuesday.
OpenAI has unveiled significant updates to its Advanced Voice Mode feature for ChatGPT, making its AI voice assistant more personable and responsive to user needs.
Denmark’s Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, criticized the United States for placing "unacceptable pressure" on Greenland, ahead of a high-profile U.S. delegation’s visit to the semi-autonomous Danish territory this week.
As famine continues to ravage parts of Sudan, humanitarian workers report that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), engaged in an ongoing conflict with the Sudanese army, are tightening their grip on relief supplies.
Signal president Meredith Whittaker has defended the platform’s security after senior Trump administration officials mistakenly included a journalist in a private Signal group chat discussing U.S. military action against Yemen’s Houthis.
At least 15 people have died as wildfires continue to ravage South Korea’s southeastern region, Yonhap News Agency reported on Wednesday.
Russia and Ukraine have agreed to suspend attacks on key energy infrastructure for 30 days, according to a statement published by the Kremlin on Tuesday.
The Department of Energy (DOE) has instructed its employees to label documents related to the agency’s review of grants and contracts under the controversial DOGE initiative with "legal privilege," in a bid to prevent them from being disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
OpenAI has unveiled significant updates to its Advanced Voice Mode feature for ChatGPT, making its AI voice assistant more personable and responsive to user needs.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment