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Vatican Releases Worrisome Details About Pope Francis' Health
The Vatican released a new statement Saturday, February 22, regarding the recent hospitalization of Pope Francis. The statement reveals additional details about the pontiff's "critical" health, sparking concern among the faithful around the world.
A hot topic: the health of Pope Francis
Although journalist Loup Besmond de Senneville stated on February 22 on the set of Télématin that Pope Francis did not like people to talk about his state of health, it has remained a central topic in recent weeks. Since February 14, the 88-year-old pontiff has been hospitalized at the Roman Gemelli Hospital in Rome due to bronchitis that worsened into pneumonia affecting both of his lungs.
While the Vatican had initially reassured by stating that the Pope's life was no longer in danger, the latest news is unfortunately not optimistic. The statement published this Saturday confirmed that the Holy Father's state of health remains worrying.
A “critical” health condition
In this recent statement, the Vatican revealed that “the condition of the Holy Father remains critical.” The suggested details are alarming: “The Pope is not out of danger. This morning, Pope Francis suffered a prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis, which also required the application of high-flow oxygen.
Medical tests also revealed other complications. "Blood tests carried out today revealed plaquelopenia [hematological disorder, editor's note], associated with anemia, which required the administration of a blood transfusion," the Vatican said. Despite these difficulties, the paper remains "alert" and spent the day in an armchair, although it suffers more than the day before. The statement concluded on a cautious note: "The prognosis is currently reserved."
These statements, as precise as they are worrying, risk increasing the anxiety of the millions of faithful who are closely following the health of the head of the Catholic Church.
Is the Vatican preparing for the worst-case scenario?
During his appearance on Télématin, Loup Besmond de Senneville focused intensively on the Vatican's possible preparations in the event of Pope Francis' death. According to the journalist, no "concrete organization" has yet been put in place to deal with such an eventuality. "We haven't started rehearsing, especially for the funeral," he said.
He stressed, however, that the Pope's hospitalization is a recurring topic of discussion within the Vatican. Catholic Church officials are no doubt aware of the gravity of the situation, even if no official measures have yet been announced.
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