Ailing Pope Francis holds Vatican work meeting in hospital

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis, who is in critical condition with double pneumonia, is alert and has met Vatican officials in hospital to discuss work issues, the Vatican said on Feb 25.

The 88-year-old Pope was spending his 12th day at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, the longest hospital stay of his nearly 12-year-old papacy.

“The Pope rested well all night,” the Vatican said in a brief, one-sentence statement.

A Vatican official, who did not wish to be named because he was not authorised to discuss the pope’s condition, said Pope Francis was eating normally, moving about his hospital room, and continuing his treatment.

The Vatican said he had met his second-in-line, Cardinal Pietro Parolin and the cardinal’s deputy on Feb 24.

It said they had discussed several pending cases for sainthood. The Vatican also announced new appointments that would have needed the pope’s approval.

Pope Francis has been working occasionally from the hospital as Vatican business continues apace during his illness.

The pope’s only other known VIP visitor was Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who visited him on Feb 19.

On Feb 24, the Vatican said the pontiff’s condition remained critical but had nonetheless

shown a “slight improvement”

, adding that the “mild kidney insufficiency”, which was first reported at the weekend, was not a cause for concern.

Prone to respiratory infections

Double pneumonia is a serious infection

that can inflame and scar both lungs, making it difficult to breathe.

The Vatican has described the Pope’s infection as “complex”, and said it was caused by two or more microorganisms.

Pope Francis, who has been pope since 2013, has suffered bouts of ill health over the past two years.

He is particularly prone to lung infections because he developed pleurisy as a young adult and had part of one lung removed.

Thousands of people gathered in St Peter’s Square on Feb 24 evening to pray for his recovery.

His friend, the Honduran cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, told Italy’s la Repubblica newspaper: “I think... it’s not time for him to go to heaven yet.”

The pope signalled in early February that he had a bad cold, which meant he could not read out his speeches. Despite this, he continued to have meetings every day and even take part in open-air Masses, despite the chill.

Some well-wishers have said he should have taken better care of himself, but Cardinal Maradiaga defended the pope’s work ethic.

“He is aware that he has a mission he must carry out, and nothing stops him. The pope explained that he did not accept his election (as pontiff) in order to rest,” he said.

The Vatican is expected to send another medical bulletin at around 7pm (Feb 26, 2am, Singapore time). REUTERS