Pope Francis, after setback, had a peaceful night, Vatican says
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Pope Francis has been in Rome's Gemelli hospital since Feb 14, after experiencing a severe respiratory infection that triggered other complications.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis, who has been in hospital for just over two weeks fighting double pneumonia after a health setback
The 88-year-old experienced a breathing crisis on Feb 28, renewing concerns over his well-being.
A Vatican official, who did not wish to be named because he was not authorised to discuss the Pope’s health, said the pontiff had not had another respiratory crisis since then.
“The night passed peacefully, the Pope is resting,” the Vatican said on March 1. He had breakfast, including a cup of coffee.
The next medical bulletin is expected at around 7pm (2am Singapore time).
The Pope, it said, also had “an episode of vomiting with inhalation and a sudden worsening of the respiratory condition”.
He needed aspiration to help remove the vomit from his airways. He also required non-invasive, mechanical ventilation, meaning that he was not intubated, which would have necessitated sedation.
His doctors were expected to take 24 to 48 hours to evaluate how the episode will impact the state of his clinical condition.
The Vatican has not said how long he will remain in hospital, but it announced on Feb 28 that he would not lead the annual Church service next week to open the Christian season of Lent.
The March 5 service, known as Ash Wednesday, starts a 40-day period leading to Easter Sunday. It will instead be entrusted to a senior Vatican official.
Pope Francis, who has been pontiff since 2013 and is often described as working himself to exhaustion, has continued leading the Vatican from the hospital. Staff appointments requiring his approval are announced daily.
He was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Feb 14 with a severe respiratory infection that degenerated into double pneumonia – a serious infection of both lungs that can inflame and scar them, making it difficult to breathe.
He last suffered what the Vatican described as a “prolonged asthma-like respiratory crisis” on Feb 22, but there had not been any repeat crises until Feb 28.
Pope Francis has suffered several bouts of ill health over the past two years. He is especially prone to lung infections because he developed pleurisy as a young adult and had part of one lung removed. REUTERS
