Vatican City, February 20, 2025/16:45
Speaking on the current crisis of Pope Francis, Jesuit Father Antonio Spadaro, a personal friend of the Holy Father, said in an interview on Wednesday that “the situation is delicate, but I have (not) seen any cause alarm ”.
“Francis is an 88 -year -old man who has had a serious problem but who is under treatment. It is not a simple treatment and will require time, “said Spadaro, 58, who, for 12 years, was director of the Jesuit magazine La CivilTà Cattolica (Catholic Civilization) and is currently under-secretary of the Dicastery of the Vatican Vatican for culture and education. He stressed that the pontiff has “an extraordinary vital energy”.
“He is not someone who lets go or easily gets, and it is a very positive aspect; We have also seen it in the past, “he said in an interview with the Italian daily Il Corriere della will be (The Evening Courier).
“My impression is that the situation has improved, and I hope that it will soon recover completely,” continued Spadaro. “Francis is a man of great intelligence, and he knows that he must take the time necessary to recover. It has been visibly affected in recent days. The important thing is that it now takes the necessary time in a protected environment. »»
Pope’s state of health
Pope Francis was admitted to the Polyclinique Hospital of Gemelli in Rome on February 14 at 11 a.m. after doing everything in his schedule for this day. However, the Holy Father began to show the first symptoms of his illness at the beginning of the previous week. Wednesday, February 5, he announced that he was suffering from “a bad cold” and apologized for not being able to read his catechesis during the general public of Paul VI Audience Hall.
Subsequently, Thursday, February 6, The Holy See confirmed That it was bronchitis, caused by inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bronchi, which made it difficult to breathe.
“Due to bronchitis, he suffers from these days and in order to be able to continue his activities, the public of Pope Francis on Friday 7 and Saturday 8 February will take place at the Maison de Saint-Martha,” said the Vatican in A brief declaration.
The delay in its hospitalization caused a certain perplexity and led to questions about how the Vatican medical team manages its care.
A pope who never stops
Spadaro stressed that, although Francis has been prescribed “absolute rest”, it is difficult for him to respect him completely.
“Indeed, he never left himself to absolute rest. Since the 1970s, when he was a young priest in Argentina, he had trouble disconnecting. Perhaps now he will take a few days to rest, but soon he will feel the need to do something, to take care of something, “said the priest.
However, he stressed that the Pope establishes a balance where “acceptance of the disease is essential”.
“Even these days, he continues to read the newspapers, take care of work and make phone calls. It always shows an extraordinary vital energy. Basically, it is typical of a Jesuit to continue working while he is alive and to die in the trenches, “he explained.
“ He never has an effort ” ‘
Spadaro stressed that the Holy Father “never managed to make the effort” and that, moreover, “he has no problem letting his weak condition be shown.”
(The story continues below)
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He was referring to Sunday, February 9, when the pope celebrated the mass of the Jubilee of the Armed Forces on Place Saint-Pierre and, not feeling well, had no problem reading part of the homily. »»
“He could have claimed that he had finished with his speech, but he preferred to delegate him. He lives with great tranquility on his physical limits. At the same time, he never stops giving himself completely in everything he does, because it is also the essence of his spirituality. In the past, when he had other health problems, he continued in the same way, “said Spadaro.
Could he resign like Pope Benoît XVI?
When asked if Francis could make the same decision as his predecessor, Pope Benoît XVI, Spadaro replied clearly: “He is aware, as he said in the past, that we go and not with the legs. “
“Admittedly, it is a question of taking stock of the amount of energy that he can still exercise. If he never feels that he no longer has the strength to direct the Church, he will resign. But as long as he believes that he has energy, a temporary health problem will not be an obstacle for him, “he said.
Spadaro said that if Pope Francis feels that he still has strength, a passing disease will not stop it. “Benedict XVI has opened the possibility of resigning, and Francis has never excluded this option. He thought about it, he thought about it, he internalized the ministry of the Pope and he saw it, “he said.
This story was published for the first time By ACI PRENSA, information partner in the Spanish language of CNA. It was translated and adapted by RNA.
As a journalist, Victoria Cardiel specializes in social and religious news. Since 2013, she has covered the Vatican for various media, including Europa Press and Alfa and Omega, the weekly newspaper of the Archdiocese of Madrid.