Mary Gilmore, Staff Writer
On Friday, Feb. 14, 88-year-old Pope Francis was hospitalized for a respiratory tract infection and bronchitis. Throughout his entire stay at the hospital, the Vatican has stated that he is not in fear of losing his life but he is in critical condition.
According to ABC News, since the beginning of his admittance, Pope Francis experienced several asthma attacks. About a week ago, along with his original diagnosis, he was diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs. The Pope had to get a blood transfusion to increase the amount of red blood cells in his body.
After the Pope was diagnosed with pneumonia, ABC News spoke with Dr. Stephanie Widmer about her beliefs on his condition. Widmer said that while it may not be life threatening, his doctors are still monitoring him very closely as the clinical course can change at any given moment. The Pope has no need for a respiratory machine, which shows that it’s not a grave case. Depending on the specifics of the illnesses the Pope has, it is unclear whether he will be allowed to begin to work again soon.
However, last Friday, NBC News stated that Pope Francis suffered a bronchospasm that led to intense vomiting. A bronchospasm is the tightening of the lung muscles, making it extremely difficult to breathe. When experiencing the bronchospasm, NBC News reported that he remained alert and oriented. After this incident, the Pope had to receive high flow supplemental oxygen to keep his breathing stable.
The day after, the Vatican stated the Pope slept peacefully and was showing slight improvement. Last Sunday, he was taken off the mechanical ventilation. This could mean Pope Francis has overcome the bronchospasm and may be on the road to recovery again.
People around the world have begun to raise concerns about the Pope. Pneumonia and respiratory illnesses have a much more dire effect on the elderly and immunocompromised than an average, healthy adult. In response to this concern, Catholics around the world united in prayer. A significant service was held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, bringing together a community for the Pope.
The Pope is said to remain in high spirits throughout his entire stay at the hospital. Through an announcement from the Vatican, Pope Francis said he was thankful for the prayers being said for his recovery, “I feel all your affection and closeness at this particular time.” Moreover, the Pope was unable to hold the Angelus Prayer that he usually leads. Instead, Pope Franics issued a text of his Angelus prayer and blessing. He stated that in his heart he was feeling the ‘‘blessing that is hidden within frailty because it is precisely in these moments that we learn even more to trust in the Lord.”
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