Pope Francis Developed bilateral pneumonia, the Vatican said on Tuesday, after new tests showed a new complication in the 88 -year -old Pope.
The Vatican said that Francis’s respiratory infection also involves asthmatic bronchitis, which required the use of cortisone antibiotic treatment. “Laboratory tests, pulmonary radiography and the clinical condition of the Holy Father continue to present a complex image,” said the Vatican.
Nevertheless, the Pope is in a good mood and is grateful for prayers for his recovery, said the spokesperson for Vatican Matteo Bruni in a late update.
The Vatican canceled the papal public on Tuesday throughout the weekend and delegated others to cover Pope Francis.
While other Vatican operations took place normally, cancellations put a brake on the upcoming events of the great holy year of the Vatican, the celebration of Catholicism formerly quarter which aims to encourage the pilgrims to come in Rome to participate in activities jubilee specials. . Should attract some 30 million people to Rome, the holy year is full of special papal audiences and masses throughout 2025, some of which have now been called into question given Francis’ disease.
Friday, Francis was admitted to the Gemelli Hospital in Rome in a “fair” situation after a work of a week of bronchitis. On Monday, medical staff determined that he was suffering from an infection of polymicrobial respiratory tract, which means that a mixture of viruses, bacteria and perhaps other organisms had colonized his airways.
The Vatican did not give any indication of the duration of hospitalization, saying that the processing of a “complex clinical image”, which has already required two changes in its drug diet, would require a “adequate” stay.
“The Pope is at risk of pneumonia due to this polymicrobial bronchitis,” said Dr. Carmelo d’Asero, an expert in infectious disease and geriatric disease in Rome. “We will see the effect of this new therapy in four to five days.”
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From Antero, which is not involved in Francis’ care, noted that his lack of fever was not necessarily a positive thing, given the gravity of his infection.
“A high fever is a sign of an immune response to a pathogen,” he said. “Having a low fever and having a serious bronchial infection … is a sign of a decrease in the immune response and that makes us worry a little more, let’s say. Maybe if he had a fever, it would have been better. »»
Francis again took a peaceful night, had breakfast and read the newspapers on Tuesday morning, said spokesperson for Vatican Matteo Bruni. A more detailed medical update was expected later.
On Monday, Francis started doing work again and did his daily call to a parish of Gaza City to check the Catholic community there. In a sign that other Vatican activities took place as usual on Tuesday, Vatican No. 2, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, continued his delicate visit to Burkina Faso and another Cardinal High of the Vatican, Cardinal Michael Czerny, Prepared to leave Wednesday for a five -day visit to Lebanon.
But other cases had to be canceled. There will be no weekly general public on Wednesday, and it is not clear if Francis will miss his blessing on Sunday noon for a second consecutive week.
This weekend of the holy year was dedicated to deacons, the ministry which is a necessary step for men who are preparing to become a priests. Francis had an independent audience on Saturday and ordered the deacons during a mass on Sunday. The Vatican announced Tuesday that his audience had been canceled and that the archbishop that organizes the jubilee would celebrate mass in place of the Pope. It is a similar arrangement that the Vatican announced last weekend when artists from the city had to settle for a papal audience put in the rebuilding and a cardinal presiding over their special mass.
The next jubilee events on the calendar that would generally involve the Pope are weekends from March 8 to 9 dedicated to volunteers.
Francis had a part of a lung eliminated after a pulmonary infection as a young man and is subject to episodes of bronchitis in winter. He admitted in the past that he was a non -compliant patient, and even his Vatican assistants said that he had pushed himself too far even once his bronchitis had been diagnosed.
He refused to release his busy schedule and ignored medical advice to stay inside during the cold winter of Rome, insisting to sit through a mass of the outdoor jubilee for the armed forces on February 9 If he had trouble breathing.
Admission to Francis Hospital This year has already sidelined it for more than a hospitalization in 2023 for pneumonia.
& Copy 2025 the Canadian press