- Vatican Pope Francis suffers a respiratory infection and will remain hospitalized "a few days"
Pope Francis began to feel ill after Wednesday's general audience. I felt a feeling of "tightness" in my chest and difficulty breathing. He was transferred to the Gemelli hospital convinced by his nurse and the medical report speaks of a "respiratory infection", so now doubts have been raised about whether the Pontiff will be able to celebrate the usual religious rites of Holy Week in Rome.
At first, the Holy See spoke of "pre-scheduled controls." However, last night, a second statement specified that Bergoglio "in recent days has complained of some respiratory difficulties" and medical controls have "revealed a respiratory infection – excluding Covid 19 infection – that will require a few days of hospitalization." The spokesman, Matteo Bruni, added: "Pope Francis is moved by the many messages received and expresses his gratitude for the closeness and prayer."
Despite the official version, internal sources of Gemelli and the Vatican tell the 'Corriere' that the situation in the morning was more complicated than it seems. As every Wednesday, Francis celebrated his general audience in St. Peter's Square, catechesis and greeting the faithful, all as always, but he could be seen more tired than usual, with a serious face and slightly swollen hands.
Back at Santa Marta, the Pope was not well. From the polyclinic they talk about heart problems, as well as respiratory problems. They say he felt a feeling of tightness, chest pains and shortness of breath. Nothing "worrying", they say, but that's when they thought it was a good idea to go straight to the Gemelli to make sure. For this reason, the Pope was transferred there by ambulance to carry out the necessary controls. He had to cancel an appointment to record an interview planned for the RAI program 'In his image'.
Francis was apparently not convinced to stay in the hospital, but his trusted nurse, Massimiliano Strappetti, 54, who was appointed the pope's "personal health assistant" last year, told him it was best. It was the Pontiff himself who recounted how that nurse had "saved his life" previously, in July 2021, when Bergoglio was admitted to the Gemelli Hospital for the first time: "He told me: 'You have to have surgery'. And this despite the contrary opinion of those who suggested that it would be enough to take an antibiotic.
The operation
Francisco was hospitalized on July 4, 2021 for 11 days and underwent surgery, the removal of a part of the colon for diverticular stenosis. But then it was different, the Holy See immediately spoke of a hospitalization and a "scheduled" operation.
The Pope is now hospitalized in a room on the tenth floor of the Gemelli, the so-called 'floor of the Popes' that already housed him two years ago and is the same one that John Paul II also occupied on several occasions.
Gemelli sources explain that all the necessary tests have already been carried out and that everything is under control. In particular, thoracic computed tomography gave a negative result. Your blood oxygen level is still being checked and there is a hemogas analysis machine in the room. In addition, there has been talk of the possibility of performing a coronary angiography.
From Gemelli they assure that from the cardiac point of view the situation does not cause "special concern". Last night Francis was feeling better, they describe him as serene. Already yesterday afternoon, the Pope's staff and security men were warned that they would spend the night at the Gemelli.
All hearings today and tomorrow have been cancelled. And the reality is that no hospitalization was planned on the eve of Palm Sunday and the celebrations of Holy Week, the most important time of the year.
Since the hospitalization will last "a few days," the pope's celebrations at Holy Week are in doubt. The Vatican simply says that "space has been made in its agenda so that the controls can continue as long as necessary."
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