Pope Francis’ Health Worsens, Suffers Two New Respiratory Crises
ROME (AP) — Pope Francis suffered two new acute respiratory crises Monday and was put back on noninvasive mechanical ventilation, in another setback to his battle to fight pneumonia, the Vatican said.
The Crisis Deepens
Doctors extracted "copious" amounts of mucus from his lungs during two bronchoscopies, in which a camera-tipped tube was sent down into his airways with a sucker at the tip to suction out fluid. The Vatican said the mucus was his body’s reaction to the original pneumonia infection and not a new infection, given laboratory tests don’t indicate any new bacteria.
Francis Remains Alert, Oriented, and Cooperates with Medical Personnel
Francis remained alert, oriented, and cooperated with medical personnel. The prognosis remained guarded. Doctors didn’t say if he remained in stable condition, though they referred to the crises in the past tense, suggesting they were over.
A New Setback in His Battle to Overcome Pneumonia
The crises were a new setback in what has become a more than two-week battle by the 88-year-old pope, who has chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed, to overcome a complex respiratory infection.
Papal Health Struggles
Francis, who is not physically active, uses a wheelchair and is overweight, had been undergoing respiratory physiotherapy to try to improve his lung function. But the accumulation of the secretions in his lungs was a sign that he doesn’t have the muscle tone to cough vigorously enough to expel the fluid.
Vatican Defends Francis’ Decision to Recover in Peace
The Vatican has defended Francis’ decision to recover in peace and out of the public eye. But on Monday, one of Francis’ closest friends at the Vatican, Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, urged him to let his voice be heard, saying the world needs to hear it.
Pope’s Message to the World
Francis wrote a message to the assembly in which he lamented that international organizations are increasingly ineffective to combat the threats facing the world and are being undermined by "short-sighted attitudes concerned with protecting particular and national interests." It was dated Feb. 26 and signed "from Gemelli Polyclinic."
Catholic Teaching on End-of-Life Care
Catholic teaching holds that life must be defended from conception until natural death. It insists that chronically ill patients, including those in vegetative states, must receive "ordinary" care such as hydration and nutrition, but "extraordinary" or disproportionate care can be suspended if it is no longer beneficial or is only prolonging a precarious and painful life.
Conclusion
Pope Francis’ health struggles continue to dominate headlines, with the latest development being a new setback in his battle to overcome pneumonia. The Vatican has defended his decision to recover in peace, but the world is holding its breath, waiting for an update on the pontiff’s condition.
FAQs
Q: What is Pope Francis’ current condition?
A: The Vatican has not released any updates on the pope’s condition, but his health struggles continue to worsen.
Q: What is the cause of Pope Francis’ pneumonia?
A: The exact cause of the pope’s pneumonia is unknown, but it is believed to be a complex respiratory infection.
Q: Will Pope Francis be intubated?
A: It is unclear if Pope Francis will be intubated during his hospitalization, but he has not been intubated so far.
Q: What is the prognosis for Pope Francis’ recovery?
A: The prognosis remains guarded, and it is unclear when the pope will be able to return to his duties.
