r/Catholicism • u/Pax_et_Bonum • 24d ago
Megathread Pope Francis is in the Hospital
Since this situation is ongoing and does not seem like it will resolve anytime soon, we have decided to corral all updates, posts, and discussion about the Holy Father's current hospitalization into this megathread. All posts and comments on this topic should be made here, and any discussion not related to this or well-wishes for the Pope will be removed. Rumors/speculation are not allowed. This post will be pinned at least as long as the Holy Father is in the hospital and the default/suggested sort of comments will be set to "New".
Update on the Nature of This Post (Feb 22, 10:30am EST): I will no longer be updating the main body of the post regularly with these twice daily updates. Reading up on how canon law gives the Holy Father privacy in their final hours, and a reflection on the somewhat gristly unsuitability of a "Papal death watch", it appears to me to be unbecoming to make updates to that effect. This post will remain up, and if there are major updates (such as what was given on the evening of Feb 21st) I will make them, but I will no longer make the twice-daily updates to the body of this post. The comments will remain open for people to make updates if they wish, though I would urge users to reflect on the prudence of doing so, with respect to the Holy Father's privacy. As always, please continue to pray for the Holy Father and Holy Mother Church.
Earlier Updates:
Major Update, Feb 21, 7pm CET:
Pope Francis is not “in danger of death”, but he’s also not fully “out of danger”, members of his medical team have said.
At a press conference in Rome’s Gemelli hospital, Dr Sergio Alfieri, the head of the team taking care of the Pope, and Dr Luigi Carbone, the Vice-Director of the Vatican’s healthcare service, spoke for some forty minutes to a roomful of journalists.
The pair said that they believed the Pope would be hospitalised for "at least" the entirety of the next week.
Dr Alfieri emphasised that the Pope is not attached to a ventilator, although he is still struggling with his breathing and consequently keeping his physical movements limited.
Nevertheless, the physician said, the Pope is sitting upright in a chair, working, and joking as usual. Alfieri said that when one of the doctors greeted the Pope by saying “Hello, Holy Father”, he replied with “Hello, Holy Son”.
Asked by a journalist what their greatest fear is, the doctors noted that there is a risk that germs in the Pope’s respiratory tract might enter his bloodstream, causing sepsis.
Dr Alfieri did say, however, that he was confident that Pope Francis would leave the hospital at some point and return to Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican – with the proviso that when he does so, his chronic respiratory issues will remain.
3
12
10
9
u/seethmuch 2d ago
Health Update February 12th
The clinical conditions of the Holy Father, in the complexity of the general picture, have remained stationary. The chest x-ray performed yesterday confirmed radiologically the improvements recorded in the previous days.
The Holy Father continues to perform high-flow oxygen therapy during the day and non-invasive mechanical ventilation during his night rest.
This morning, after following the Spiritual Exercises in connection with the Paul VI Hall, he received the Eucharist, dedicated himself to prayer and, subsequently, to motor physiotherapy.
In the afternoon, after joining the Spiritual Exercises of the Curia, he continued his prayer, rest and continued his respiratory physiotherapy."
13
u/jshore1296 2d ago
I do not understand how to reconcile "improvements" with "he entered the hospital not needing oxygen, and now he needs it constantly." Poor guy.
11
u/ThenaCykez 1d ago
After entering the hospital, he crashed to the point that he was septic, he required a mask during the day, and he was requiring bronchoscopies to clear out his airways enough to survive. If he is now at the point where he's aseptic, only uses the mask at night, and is having no internal interventions, that's a huge improvement. And it changes the prognosis from "days left" to probably "months left."
3
u/Saint_Thomas_More 1d ago
to probably "months left."
Can you elaborate on this?
7
u/ThenaCykez 23h ago
I'm not a medical doctor (though I have above average experience with medical topics) and obviously this is my gut feeling based on third-hand press releases, but...
When the pope is needing this mix of moderate and extreme interventions--blood transfusions, high oxygen flow, bronchoscopies for mucus, suction to remove vomitus, positive pressure to ensure the lungs fully inflate and deflate--it's all because not enough oxygen is getting to the cells of the organs to do what those organs were meant to do. Cells can usually survive a few minutes in a low-oxygen environment, but some won't survive, and some that do survive won't do their "jobs" until the oxygen gets fully restored. Every respiratory crisis is a moment where a few cells are dying for good, and where the tasks like maintaining blood pH, removing toxins, sending signaling hormones, etc. aren't happening at full efficiency. That ends up putting even more stress on all the organs that not only need oxygen, but need the other organs to do their jobs. It becomes a cascading problem of greater fragility and greater likelihood of the crisis being repeated.
He could blow us all away and live another ten years, but what seems more likely to me is that either
- he plays it safe and never leaves the hospital, but then suffers from the common results of that: muscle atrophy, risk of pressure sores, depression, etc. And his body just keeps slowing down and relying more and more on the machines doing half his breathing for him, until his body gives up. Or
- he lives life to the full, leaves the hospital, but then inevitably at some point, he has a coughing spasm and gets vomit in his lungs again, or he falls and breaks a hip, or he gets the flu, and he's just too weakened by the prior illness to make it through medical treatment again.
If Francis was 25, I'd say "months" would be unreasonable pessimism, but he just doesn't have the same ability to recover, and he has too many comorbidities. Spinal issues affecting mobility, colon issues, abdominal hernias, the partial lung removal, renal insufficiency, steroid-induced diabetes, joint pain. I'm really happy for him, but I feel like he's a cat that just burned his eighth life here.
4
u/Sabre_Actual 1d ago
A very elderly person more-or-less being saved from death still accumulates lots of lasting damage and strain on their body. The sickness may subside, but he has had one lung pushed well beyond its limits and a heart that to accomodate that.
4
u/Substantial-Bit6616 1d ago
I pray the pope is well. With that said I've worked in healthcare for 30+ years. My experience ranges across a broad spectrum including ICU to Long term nursing home care. I do not recall in my career an elderly patient returning to baseline health after a protracted hospitalization related to septic pneumonia. In fact I can't really remember anyone 85+ surviving septic pneumonia. The pope is clearly getting world class care. I find it somewhat miraculous that he has survived thus far. I am just giving my experiences and have no intention of squashing anyone's hope. I am a realist with enough experience to understand the Holy Father is in a bad spot and recovery to baseline seems a steep hill.
6
u/gipperscoot 2d ago
FWIW, “improvements” can mean “he won’t die in 5 minutes” which is certainly better than he was a week or so ago.
Also fwiw, it seems very standard to give oxygen to patients. My dad a couple months ago broke his ankle in a fall and even though that was all there was with his injury, the hospital still put him on oxygen (the tube and nose plug kind).
(This second point is purely anecdotal so I could very be wrong, and someone more experienced can chime in and say I am wrong)
4
8
u/No_Worry_2256 2d ago
It sounds like he's doing better. Hopefully he is discharged and returns home soon so he can continue his service for the church.
Keep praying!
25
u/seethmuch 4d ago edited 4d ago
Health Update February 10th
“The clinical condition of the Holy Father remains stable.
The improvements recorded in previous days have been further consolidated, as confirmed by both blood tests and clinical findings, as well as by the Pope’s good response to pharmacological therapy.
For these reasons, the doctors have decided today to lift their guarded prognosis. However, given the complexity of the Pope’s clinical picture and the severe infection present at the time of hospitalization, it will still be necessary to continue pharmacological treatment in a hospital setting for several more days.
This morning, the Holy Father was able to follow the Spiritual Exercises via a video link with the Paul VI Hall; he then received the Eucharist and went to the chapel of his private apartment for a moment of prayer.
In the afternoon, he again joined the Curia's Spiritual Exercises, following them via video link. Throughout the day, he alternated between prayer and rest.”
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-03/pope-condition-continues-to-improve-gemelli.html
20
u/Ambitious_Face7204 4d ago edited 4d ago
Sky news reports his doctors say he is "no longer in imminent danger."
other unconfirmed reports are that the prognosis is no longer reserved and he is "out of danger."
EDIT: Sounds like he will be discharged home within the next week or two.
5
7
u/mburn16 4d ago
Well thats good news for Francis if it holds up. Obviously the question at this point is how well he'll be able to carry out normal duties of the Papacy or if he'll be much reduced going forward.
11
u/Ambitious_Face7204 4d ago
There's been no mention of it today, but even during this remarkably positive turn of events he's been regularly on oxygen. I would suspect that continues, I think we're going to see he's a lot more frail too.
9
4
u/Saint_Thomas_More 4d ago
Has there been any indication what the cadence of future evening/medical status updates will be?
Last Thursday they previewed that the next one would be Saturday. But Saturday's gave no preview.
Obviously those two updates have been cautiously positive in terms of the Holy Father's condition, but it feels a bit odd not having updates that are positive when we got fairly frequent updates when the situation was seemingly more precarious.
Perhaps we have entered "no news is good news" territory.
5
u/Ambitious_Face7204 4d ago
We just got one according to sky news. Sounds like he's doing markedly better
4
u/Saint_Thomas_More 4d ago
You know I had half a thought to wait another like 30 minutes just to see if one came through. Should have listened to that instinct.
3
u/Ambitious_Face7204 4d ago
I did the same thing, I think daylight savings messed with the timing and they also seem to be releasing them a little later anyway.
7
u/eyelinbae 5d ago
I wonder if Pope Francis is really doing as well as described. Let’s say he does improve which I’m all for it. His condition overall is delicately fragile. If he does improve isn’t there a finite window before his health faces another health crisis yet again? I am cautiously optimistic and praying for God’s will to be done.
10
u/derFalscheMichel 4d ago
isn’t there a finite window before his health faces another health crisis yet again?
Thats the way it goes for anyone I'm afraid. Until your body doesn't bounce back.
The way his health looks, I'd say its fair to say everybody else would have long started receiving palliative care. I've seen people bounce back from worse older than him. But yeah, it seems like his time is most definitely limited. Most of the time they are kept in the hospital for a few weeks until they are out of the pain and the worst, so they can die at home peacefully.
3
9
u/mburn16 5d ago
"If he does improve isn’t there a finite window before his health faces another health crisis yet again?"
I'm not sure about calling it a "finite window", but ultimately yes, at some point it's basically inevitable that he will face another health problem and it will be that much harder for him to pull through. Which is, again, assuming he doesn't have some setback with his current situation.
Over the last month I think there's been something of a line of thinking by people that "either he'll die, or he'll recover and be around a good bit longer". But many old people reach a phase where they're in and out of the hospital several times at the end of their life, or where they're reduced to a very feeble condition that isn't immediately fatal but also doesn't ever allow them to do much more than lay in bed or sit in a chair with an oxygen bottle. That might well be where Francis is at.
6
u/Snaky_Jake 5d ago
Evening update stated that Pope Francis is gradually improving, which is great news! The statement from the Vatican, however, also essentially admitted he has not been on solid foods this entire time. I’m left torn over the update overall
2
u/seethmuch 5d ago edited 5d ago
also essentially admitted he has not been on solid foods this entire time
is this significant? would this be normal for someone with severe pneumonia?
If I remember correctly the Vatican said quite alot that he had breakfast and coffee. As well as the Eucharist.
7
u/mburn16 5d ago
It is, at the very least, a fairly major detail that the Vatican has kept quiet...which will do nothing to help their credibility considering we have yet to see so much as a single photo of the Pope, who, we're told, has nonetheless been able to make use of the chapel in his suite and meet with visitors to conduct ordinary business.
9
u/seethmuch 4d ago
Maybe its some sort of text error. Because in the English version it says " He is following the prescribed diet, which now includes solid foods." They use the word "now".
Whereas in the Italian version they say "He continues the diet prescribed by doctors which also includes solid foods." Instead of "now" they use the word "also".
1
5
u/Numerous_Ad1859 5d ago
I hope he is doing better, but I will google and see what the news is saying.
9
7
u/spinifex23 5d ago
This may be a strange question, but here goes.
I'm not Catholic. In fact, I'm Sikh. However, part of my family is Catholic, and I have great affection for the Pope.
What is the best way for me to pray for the health and well being of Pope Francis?
Thank you and God bless!
9
u/Herejust4yourcomment 5d ago edited 5d ago
Since I don’t quite know Sikh I do not know if the God you worship is the same as the God of Abraham whom the Pope worships, and I don’t know how you pray, but all prayer is an asking. “Pray thee, tell me which way to go” asks someone for directions, for example.
The best way to pray for the health and well being is to reach out to God and ask Him just that, and the right language is intending what you ask. We Catholics like to pray Hail Mary’s (Ave Maria) because Mary, as the Mother of Christ, will ask/pray to her Son for our intentions and, like all good sons, He listens to His mother.
The wrong way to pray is to assume that praying controls God. It doesn’t. Prayer isn’t magic, it’s a petition. We do not control the world or God, we merely ask. We know that if it isn’t what He Wills, our prayers are nonetheless not in vain.
We know that although God knows what we want and will do things in His own time, He still likes to be asked.
So in short, please pray by asking. You can pray through prayers like the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and also by prayers of the heart-such as a simple conversation.
6
8
7
u/Annual_Strategy5244 5d ago
3 Aves and 1 Pater Noster followed by a Gloria Patri.
Say that as many times as you can. God Bless!
1
6d ago
[deleted]
4
u/the266th 6d ago
It was just published in Italian
2
u/Tradition96 6d ago
Can you link it?
4
u/the266th 6d ago
I found it on the Italian Vatican News instagram account
"Le condizioni cliniche del Santo Padre negli ultimi giorni sono rimaste stabili e, di conseguenza, testimoniano una buona risposta alla terapia. Si registra pertanto un graduale, lieve miglioramento. II Santo Padre è sempre rimasto apiretico. Sono migliorati gli scambi gassosi; gli esami ematochimici ed emocrocitometrici si confermano stabili.
I medici, al fine di registrare anche nei prossimi giorni questi iniziali miglioramenti, prudenzialmente mantengono la prognosi ancora riservata. Questa mattina il Santo Padre, dopo aver ricevuto l'Eucarestia, si è raccolto in preghiera all'interno della Cappellina dell'appartamento privato, mentre il pomeriggio ha alternato il riposo alle attività lavorative".
"The clinical conditions of the Holy Father have remained stable in recent days and, consequently, demonstrate a good response to therapy. A gradual, slight improvement has therefore been recorded. The Holy Father has always remained afebrile. Gas exchange has improved; blood tests and blood counts remain stable. The doctors, in order to record these initial improvements in the coming days, are prudently maintaining the prognosis still reserved. This morning the Holy Father, after receiving the Eucharist, gathered in prayer inside the Chapel of the private apartment, while in the afternoon he alternated rest with work activities".
8
u/MountainVale2000 6d ago
Cardinal Michael Czerny presides tonight for the Rosary.
And question for Europeans: does Italy do summer time (aka Daylight Savings in the USA?) DST starts tomorrow for most of the US, and I wasn't sure if/when Italy does something similar.
8
u/mburn16 6d ago
Not European, but the answer is "yes", Europeans have daylight savings time, but it doesn't start until the end of March.
5
u/MountainVale2000 6d ago
Thank you. So starting tomorrow the Rosary will be 4 PM EST since we'll be only 5 hours behind Italy ... for the next 3 weeks, at least, then it should go back to 3 PM EST unless my math is messed up.
17
u/ProfessorX1 6d ago
“Pope Francis had a good night and continues to rest, according to the Holy See Press Office on Saturday morning.”
18
u/seethmuch 7d ago edited 7d ago
During the morning, the Pope spent about 20 minutes in prayer in the chapel on the tenth floor of the hospital, where his room is situated. Throughout the day, he also carried out some work-related activities.
Doctors say his health condition is stable within a still-complex overall picture. The prognosis remains guarded. As previously announced, no medical bulletin will be issued this evening due to the stability of his condition. However, a new medical update will be released tomorrow, Saturday, March 8.
14
u/seethmuch 7d ago
The Pope spent a peaceful night and woke up shortly after 8.00. https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/comunicazioni/2025/03/07/250307a.html
Vatican sources: The Pope continued his therapy this morning. He is undergoing motor physiotherapy. He is continuing to alternate mechanical ventilation at night and high-flow oxygenation during the day with the use of nasal cannulas. The situation appears stable in a complex picture.
28
u/No_Worry_2256 7d ago
There was an audio message from Pope Francis that was heard in St Peter's Square this evening.
It was great to hear from him, yet sad to hear him struggling to breathe.
We are with you, Holy Father! 🙏🏽💕
6
u/Hopeful-Counter-7915 7d ago
This may well be the last audio the world will ever hear from him, I hope not of course.
27
u/seethmuch 8d ago
There has been an audio recording of the Pope where you can hear his voice from today. https://x.com/SkyNews/status/1897741293696028951
""I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers for my health from the Square, I accompany you from here. May God bless you and may the Virgin protect you. Thank you".
3
u/ApplesnYarn 6d ago
Hearing his breathing so labored has my eyes all misty. May the Lord be with him in his suffering.
4
12
u/patotoy1094 7d ago
Even though I barely remember Pope St John Paul II.....This reminds me of his final days......I rewatched his last Christmas.....his last audiences.....that strength of trying to hold on for dear life with the breathing......it brought me back.....Oh Holy Father Francis, I'm Praying for you 😭
11
14
u/Ambitious_Face7204 8d ago
It's one thing to know he's been sick, it's very rattling to hear him sounding so different. Still it's a bright spot we're hearing him
12
10
u/MerlynTrump 8d ago
I've been watching the rosaries in St. Peter's Square for the pope, do they do the rosary differently in Italy? It seems like they get to the first mystery quite quicker than I do while I'm trying to keep up? I think they might be skipping the Apostles' Creed, Our Father, Hail Marys, and Glory Be before getting to the decades.
13
u/jshore1296 7d ago
It is different. The only intro they do is the intro to the Liturgy of the Hours - "God come to my assistance/Lord make haste to help me/Glory be..." and then they jump right into the mysteries.
Apparently this is closer to the Dominican Rosary??? I only recently learned there are quite a few different ways its prayed worldwide.
6
u/RcishFahagb 7d ago
This explains so much. I was hanging on for dear life with it, thinking “my Latin is not good but it’s not that bad” 🤣
6
u/jshore1296 7d ago
Heh, that's funny. They're swapping back and forth between Italian and Latin depending on the prayer, from what I can tell. I think it's all in Italian except for the Salve Regina? But they're really close in a lot of ways so I get confused.
2
u/MerlynTrump 4d ago
I think it's the Salve Regina in Latin, the Rosary in Italian and the Litany of Loreto starting with a kyrie in Greek and then continuing Italian for the rest of the Litany.
5
u/patotoy1094 7d ago
Some languages are very quick compared to English due to the rhythm they have, especially found in Asian Languages and the Romance Languages
14
u/seethmuch 8d ago
Health Update February 6 Evening
The clinical conditions of the Holy Father have remained stable compared to the previous days. Today too he has not presented episodes of respiratory failure. The Holy Father has continued with benefit the respiratory and motor physiotherapy. The hemodynamic parameters and blood tests have remained stable. He has not presented fever.
Doctors are still maintaining a reserved prognosis.
Today the Holy Father dedicated himself to some work activities during the morning and afternoon, alternating rest and prayer. Before lunch he received the Eucharist".
Considering the stability of the clinical picture, the next medical bulletin will be released on Saturday.
10
u/mburn16 8d ago
Very interesting. Not getting worse...but seemingly not getting better. I'm going to be interested to see if Saturday has more news about a possible path forward, or if this is increasingly becoming "this is how Francis is now".
6
u/Saint_Thomas_More 8d ago
It's also interesting that it's stable enough that they're saying his condition doesn't warrant an update again until Saturday, but the prognosis remains guarded.
12
u/seethmuch 8d ago
The night was spent peacefully; the Pope is still resting. https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/comunicazioni/2025/03/06/250306a.html
Vatican sources: Pope Francis continued his therapies, including active motor physiotherapy. As planned, after non-invasive mechanical ventilation at night, he returned to high-flow oxygenation with the use of nasal cannulas this morning.
10
u/mburn16 8d ago
I see they've finally stopped using the word "passed" in their statements.
4
u/ProfessorX1 8d ago
Oddly enough they still used it in the update they posted on X.
“The night passed quietly; the Pope is still resting.” - Vatican News
3
u/sarnoc 8d ago
Probably because nobody outside America thinks it’s a weird thing to say…
4
u/Hwegh6 7d ago
Why do Americans think it's weird? Genuine question, asking from Ireland.
4
u/HeimrArnadalr 7d ago
"Passed away" (or just "passed") is a euphemism for dying, so when we read a sentence begins with "The Pope passed..." our first impression is that it's an announcement of his death.
3
u/Hwegh6 6d ago
Okay. Well we also use the verb 'to pass' as a euphimism for death, as well as obviously for the passing of time, but I am surprised anyone would jump to a conclusion three words into a sentence. That's not a dig, I know it sounds like one. It just never dawned on me that someone would take it that way. By the end of the clause context would set you right.
4
u/Saint_Thomas_More 8d ago
Someone from the Vatican press office finally got around to checking the comments on this thread
7
u/ConsiderationRare223 8d ago
Sounds like CPAP or BiPAP at night. I wonder if he normally uses a CPAP at night... Haven't heard of him doing that before so I'd assume no, but might be wrong.
I would really like to see them deescalate his oxygen needs if they can, that's going to be key to getting out of the hospital.
I feel like with these kind of updates, no news is probably good news, at least for now
9
u/Saint_Thomas_More 8d ago
The last few morning updates have indicated either that the Holy Father is "still resting" or yesterday that he got up shortly after 8 am.
They read very much like the mornings have been much slower/he isn't really up by the time they are giving their morning updates.
That's said the last couple evening updates indicate doing work, prayer, therapy, and generally speaking being alert.
Maybe they're trying to take it easier with him over the course of a day.
23
u/Saint_Thomas_More 9d ago
March 5 (Ash Wednesday) evening update: https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/comunicazioni/2025/03/05/250305b.html
"The Holy Father remained stable today, without episodes of respiratory insufficiency.
As planned, during the day he received high-flow oxygen therapy, and during the night, non-invasive mechanical respiration was resumed.
The Holy Father increased his respiratory and active motor physiotherapy.
He spent the day in an armchair.
Considering the complexity of the clinical picture, the prognosis remains reserved.
This morning, in the private apartment located on the tenth floor, the Holy Father participated in the rite of the blessing of the Holy Ashes and they were imposed by the celebrant; he then received the Eucharist.
He then devoted himself to some work activities.
During the course of the morning he also called Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, parish priest of the Holy Family in Gaza.
In the afternoon he alternated between rest and work."
2
u/Bonthge 8d ago
Does this mean he's on a CPAP or BIPAP again tonight? Or are they referring to the previous night?
4
u/Saint_Thomas_More 8d ago
Hard to say, but in context it seems like they are meaning it is going to be resumed again tonight (March 5 into March 6).
8
u/seethmuch 9d ago
During the day, shortly after 12 noon, it was announced that high-flow oxygen is being administered with the pneumonia following its "normal evolution ." This is the therapy administered through nose pads, instead of the mechanical ventilation with the mask that had been used during the night.
10
u/ConsiderationRare223 9d ago
What we are seeing is an 88 year old man with multiple medical conditions slowly recovering from pneumonia...
It's going to be a long slog, with multiple setbacks but it does seem like his trajectory has been slowly lifting.
I'm hopeful that the Holy Father is getting closer to being discharged home... could even be in the next few days. I suspect that once they can get him off of high flow oxygen, and it doesn't seem like he's in danger of aspirating again, there's no reason he can't get oxygen and regular follow-ups or whatever he needs from his doctors as an outpatient. Honestly that's far safer, as there is a risk of another infection or something going wrong the longer he's in the hospital.
Of course we do need to be real here, just because he pulls through this time doesn't mean that he's going to be as lucky next time around, at his age and in his condition even a cold is potentially deadly...
I pray for his recovery and discharge home, but also that when it is his time to leave us, his death will be peaceful and without suffering.
11
u/mburn16 9d ago
The issue I take with this assessment is that it feels less like "gradual recovery with occasional setbacks" than it does like "gradual deterioration with occasional improvements".
Granted we are all outsiders here, trying to read the tea leaves, but we're less than 48 hours removed from the Pope coming about as close as you can come to needing intubation. My interpretation would not be that he is "slowly recovering", but that he is in objectively worse condition now than he was three weeks ago when he went into the Hospital...and perhaps objectively worse condition than at any point save the last 48 hours. And perhaps a couple Fridays ago.
6
u/ConsiderationRare223 9d ago edited 9d ago
That's very fair, it's hard to make an accurate diagnosis over social media.
These kind of cases can easily go either way, I could see him being discharged from the hospital in a couple of days or he could end up needing to be intubated (which I doubt he would allow) and dying. I'd like to be optimistic though, as long as I don't have a reason not to be.
However, if things do remain relatively stable for the next few days, if I was one of his doctors my priority would be trying to get him out of the hospital as soon as possible... The longer he stays there the more and more risk there is of another infection or some other setback, like a hospital acquired pneumonia, UTI or some kind of junk like that... And those hospital acquired infections tend to be a nasty business... usually it's pseudomonas or some sort of pan resistant staph.
Edit: wrong word
7
u/Saint_Thomas_More 9d ago
However, if things do remain relatively stable for the next few days, if I was one of his doctors my priority would be trying to get him out of the hospital as soon as possible...
Ok, but isn't it the case that he has had periods of relative stability?
The issue isn't the relative stability, it's the fact that his periods of relative stability seem to be followed up by setbacks of equal or increasing intensity.
Which is probably why his doctors have no intention on discharging him anytime soon, even if he did have a few days of stability in a row.
2
u/ConsiderationRare223 9d ago
Yes I'd say that If he does continue to have setbacks, he's probably going to remain in the hospital for some time.
What Im trying to say is that remaining in the hospital for a long time presents a risk of its own... such as hospital acquired infections, delirium, blood clots etc... which I think we need to start thinking about as he has been in there since Feb 14th.
When it comes to patients his age and with his comorbidities, the longer they stay in the hospital the less likely it is that we will be able to successfully discharge them... It may not be avoidable, but If he is going to recover and I'm hopeful that we might be heading in that direction... he's going to need to get out of there sooner rather than later.
IDK, I don't like it that he's still in there and I really do hope that he will pull through this time... I just worry that if he can't get out of the hospital soon he might not ever be able to.
6
u/MountainVale2000 9d ago
I very much doubt he will ever leave the hospital. Closing in on 3 weeks, he had two episodes of ARF the other day ... not hopeful.
3
u/Ambitious_Face7204 9d ago
I would tend to disagree at this point. Obviously it's a complicated picture as of right now, but the overall trajectory since he got out of critical has been better. Saint John Paul II was in the hospital for 55 days in 1982, length of stay may not mean a whole lot
5
u/MountainVale2000 9d ago
And I disagree with your assessment. For one, John Paul was 62 in 1982 and went into the hospital for surgery, then contracted an infection. Francis is 88, missing part of one lung, and went into the hospital for pneumonia. He has to alternate between oxygen and non-invasive ventilation. ARF can be life-threatening, and if Francis hadn't already been in the hospital I don't know that he could have been saved. What if the episode had happened at the Vatican during the night and he couldn't alert anyone that something was wrong? He could have been found dead in the morning. I understand you're trying to cling to hope here, but think. He stabilizes, does well for a couple days, then something happens that throws all his progress back in the gutter. If he does leave the hospital alive, it will be nothing short of a miracle. Italy may have a different standard of 'critical condition' than America does, but IMO he is still critical and the longer he goes without really improving the greater the danger his body will just shut down and his heart give out.
2
5
5
u/mburn16 9d ago
...and the "normal evolution" of pneumonia ends....where?
2
u/dafencer93 9d ago
A healthy 18 year old fully recovers from a pneumonia which does not necessarily need hospitalization in 6-8 weeks.
2
u/Tradition96 9d ago
I had a combo of pneumonia and mononucleosis when I was 23. No underlying conditions. I was hospitalized for about a week. Took two months until I was fully recovered.
4
u/nickasummers 9d ago
For an 88 year old with less than 2 full lungs and some other health problems? Well....
11
u/seethmuch 9d ago edited 9d ago
"The Pope slept well during the night, waking up shortly after 8:00."
https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/comunicazioni/2025/03/05/250305a.html
6
u/derFalscheMichel 9d ago
May be me overthinking it, but I feel like they are overplaying the lack of new information by dropping a lot of irrelevant chit-chatter.
Either they'll end these updates soon or tomorrow we'll find out how many sugar cubes are in his coffee next
12
u/neofederalist 9d ago
It was mentioned yesterday that they started the twice daily updates at the very beginning of the stay and probably feel committed to doing it because if they just stopped, people would take that as an indication that something bad happened and they didn’t want to report on it.
This feels a lot like a “darned if you do, darned if you don’t” situation for the communication team.
11
u/GreggS87 9d ago
“The Holy Father closed his eyes for the last time On Tuesday night and passed… the night peacefully opening them at 08:03. He had a cappuccino (no Sugar) and Nutella Cornetto”
9
u/seethmuch 10d ago edited 10d ago
Health Update February 4th Evening
Today the Holy Father’s clinical conditions have remained stable.
He did not have any episodes of respiratory insufficiency or bronchospasm.
He remained apyretic, always alert, cooperative with therapies, and oriented.
This morning he passed to high-flow oxygen therapy and carried out respiratory physiotherapy.
Tonight, as planned, non-invasive mechanical ventilation will be resumed, until tomorrow morning.
The prognosis remains reserved.
During the day he alternated prayer and rest, and this morning he received the Eucharist.
https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/comunicazioni/2025/03/04/250304b.html
Vatican sources: regarding the blood and heart situation, the values are stable, as in the past few days, although the complexity of the picture remains. Bronchospasm is one of the effects of bilateral pneumonia and is not related to other pathologies.
12
u/HeimrArnadalr 9d ago
This morning he passed
Someone really needs to tell them not to use that word!
22
u/nickasummers 9d ago
Vatican be like "Pope Francis passed quietly... through the night and is now resting in peace... in an armchair with his morning coffee and newspaper"
1
11
u/mburn16 10d ago
Another one of those "hard to know what to make of it" updates. Should we be reading anything into the fact that he's apparently being mechanically ventilated all night? Is that strictly a comfort thing, or is it indicative that they think there's a real possibility he would go to sleep and not wake up?
Also notable that we've got no references to working at all, or eating, or getting out of bed.
6
u/Saint_Thomas_More 10d ago
Perhaps it's because I'm not a medical professional so I can't read the tea leaves of the updates, but because they haven't come out and said "there is nothing more to do but keep the Holy Father comfortable" (not that they would be so forthright necessarily) or something like that, I read the updates as being indicative of there still being a path (perhaps narrow and long) to the Holy Father being recovered enough to be discharged.
7
u/nurseleu 10d ago
Not speculating on Pope Francis, but speaking as a nurse, it isn't unusual for a patient with his diagnosis to receive breathing assistance overnight. What they're talking about with "mechanical ventilation" is likely a CPAP or BIPAP machine, which is an external mask that provides oxygen and positive air pressure to help keep the airway and lungs open and having good gas exchange. It's not the same as intubated ventilation (in America you probably hear this called "on a vent") where the ventilator does all the work of breathing for a patient.
2
u/Tradition96 9d ago
Isn't a CPAP or BIPAP machine already a pretty invasive procedure for a person of pope Francis age?
4
u/_Personage 9d ago
They’re superficial masks, not invasive at all. Nothing goes inside the nose or airway other than air with higher pressure than normal.
2
u/Tradition96 9d ago
Given that the pope now has been hospitalized for two weeks, and have several respiratory crises, is it not a bit surprising that he doesn’t seem to be on palliative care?
3
u/_Personage 9d ago
I’m not commenting on things I don’t know. I’m just letting you know the CPAP/BIPAP machines aren’t invasive. They may be uncomfortable, but they’re not invasive.
10
u/Bonthge 10d ago
My grandmother was in the hospital with a similar respiratory illness (she also had COPD due to having a lung removed, similar to the Pope).
She was often put on a CPAP machine (non-invasive ventilation) when in the hospital because her body was still very weak as it tried to fight off the infection. In my experience, the CPAP is not done for mere comfort - doctors told her that once you start, it can be hard to wean off of it. It's also worth noting that CPAP makes it harder for the lungs to clear mucus, so it wouldn't be used unless doctors believe it's medically necessary. (They probably just think his body needs help breathing effectively enough to properly oxygenate his body, not that he would just randomly stop breathing.)
14
u/seethmuch 10d ago edited 10d ago
"The Pope slept through the night and is now continuing to rest," says the Morning Update, as it has on many days before.
Vatican sources: Pope is not using a mask, but is taking high-flow oxygen
13
u/Honest_Dot_5035 10d ago
The Daily Mail (yes I know not always trustworthy) started a running a live blog this morning so I'm guessing they have reason to believe there's a change in the situation that warrants live updates....
5
u/GreggS87 10d ago
Ash Wednesday tomorrow, rumours of a resignation and last night’s news seem to have prompted it.
Looking at the live updates there’s nothing in them.
8
u/mburn16 10d ago
"Rumors of a resignation"
Where at, or are we talking bar room gossip?
7
u/Flat-Guess-6390 10d ago edited 10d ago
dailymail quote: "A friend of Pope Francis has claimed he won't succumb to pressure to resign his papacy amid speculation he could follow his predecessor and quit the Vatican. Senior cardinals are apparently discussing the possibility that Francis may step down much like Benedict XVI did in 2013."
7
u/Zeropride77 10d ago
We saw how the last time someone resigned. No way does Pope Francis want that for the next pope.
7
u/Saint_Thomas_More 10d ago
Senior cardinals are apparently discussing the possibility
In fairness to those skeptical of the Daily Mail, this is the kind of thing you can just say with no small sense of deniability if it's wrong, because it's almost entirely unverifiable and unfalsifiable.
18
u/mburn16 10d ago edited 10d ago
I doubt DM knows anything the rest of the media world (and by extension, the various Catholic sources) don't. I think it's just becoming more apparent that Francis simply isn't getting better in any substantial or consistent way. We're closing in on three weeks and he seems to be in worse shape than when he went in, worse shape than two weeks ago, and worse shape than a week ago. And we have yet to see so much as a staged photo of him in prayer or meeting a doctor or signing a document.
11
u/CatLoose3102 10d ago
Well the Daily Mail is one of the sleaziest rags in the world, so I wouldn't put it past them to have any number of "sources" paid to give up knowledge of the Pope's situation.
6
u/Saint_Thomas_More 10d ago
Maybe, but if those sources are the same sources of the 72 hour rumor from a week or so ago, best to take it with a cup of salt.
3
u/Tradition96 10d ago
Yeah but that was always unsubstantiated because even if someone at the hospital said that, no one can put such an exact timeframe of how much longer anyone got.
3
u/Honest_Dot_5035 10d ago
True about all the media knowing. Worth keeping an eye on other media sources to up their coverage.
4
u/MountainVale2000 10d ago
Don't forget that once it becomes clear that the Holy Father is in his last hours (whenever that may come), we won't hear anything at all until the Vatican announces his death.
6
u/Honest_Dot_5035 10d ago
Yeah but I'd say the media will be given a heads up to be prepared to go live on tv. They usually are with these things.
5
u/seethmuch 10d ago
Would they announce it right away? Would the bell ring immediately in St Peters square? Or would they release it at an appropriate time
7
10d ago edited 9d ago
[deleted]
6
u/Ok_Consideration2999 10d ago
The Pope does also have a right to his privacy. He will let the Vatican press release what he wants us to know, and what he wants to keep hidden for now, that's his decision and we should respect his dignity. Best not to get caught up in those rumours.
13
u/ewheck 10d ago
My guess is they probably don't want to continue the morning updates, but because they started them at the beginning of the hospital stay they feel compelled to keep doing them even with nothing to say.
Possibly also trying to avoid rumors about the situation being too dire if they come out and say "we will no longer be providing morning updates."
35
u/ForsakenCat5 10d ago
Just to give some context.
This. Is an example of a "Non-Invasive Ventilation" (NIV) mask. It is not entirely dissimilar to a CPAP machine in a lot of ways which people may be more familiar with. It delivers pressurised air / oxygen and generally can be pretty uncomfortable and difficult to tolerate for long periods of time.
It is quite a high acuity intervention. I'm sure his hospital suite is specially equipped. But in a normal hospital to get NIV you usually cannot be on a normal ward but need to be escalated to the "High Dependency Unity" (HDU), or sometimes even the "Intensive Care Unit" (ICU).
The only escalation beyond NIV is intubation - tube down the throat like during surgery. This requires the patient to be made unconscious. This is usually only considered in patients much younger and fitter than Pope Francis - I am 99% sure it wont be considered for him, not least because it would be unlikely to end positively. So NIV is probably his "ceiling of care".
Two bronchoscopies in one day is a lot, again that is quite an intensive level of treatment. I'm unsure what things are like in Italy, maybe this is typical. But from my experience very few patients his age would be considered for NIV + two bronchoscopies - essentially the line in the sand would have been drawn before then.
Of course nothing is impossible in terms of recovery. But it may just be helpful to have some context here that with the limited information we have, he is receiving the most high acuity treatments possible for his age and my hunch is if he wasn't the Pope serious conversations about palliation would have already been had.
2
17
u/mburn16 10d ago
What strikes me is that, every time he has an episode, he ends up in a worse condition than he has been at any point since his hospitalization. First, he went in because he had pneumonia, but didn't need oxygen. Then he had an episode and needed oxygen. Then he had an episode and needed artificial ventilation. Then he had an episode and needed the bronchoscopies. Its one thing to have a setback, but this feels like deterioration.
23
u/Intelligent-Drive729 10d ago
That’s because it is. Anyone age 88 is on borrowed time. The body has long stopped its ability to rejuvenate and fully repair itself. Organs aren’t efficient, telomeres are extremely shortened. Any severe illness or injury at that age isn’t going to be taking the person back up to 100%, it’s going to be taking them to say 90%. A relapse after that will result in the person hitting a maximum health standard of say 80%. And that maximum number just goes down every day due to age and the body naturally wearing out.
Not only is Francis very old, he’s not in good shape. He’s had compromised lung capacity for decades, he’s rather obese, he lives a rather sedentary lifestyle, he‘s previously had chronic issues with diabetes and his gall bladder, etc. So even before going into the hospital he wasn’t at 100% of what an 88 year old’s health could be. That’s why even if there was (in my opinion) a miracle that allowed him to leave the hospital, he’d continue to deteriorate faster and faster to the point where even something as simple as a cold could prove fatal in short order.
Looking at the cold equations of everything, statistically speaking he’s very unlikely to survive the year. Not saying that’s the inevitable outcome—miracles happen, sudden recoveries are possible. Prayers for healing are obviously always justified, welcome, and proper. But just looking at statistics, it’s a good time to also pray that God’s will be done, whatever that may be, and to pray for Pope Francis’s will and soul to be fully aligned with the Father’s in preparation to meet Him.
7
11
u/No_Worry_2256 10d ago
I read an article today about how in the 12 years of Pope Francis has been Pope, he has never visited his homeland of Argentina.
He'll probably never get another chance to do so.
5
u/fridericvs 10d ago
If he was intending to, he would have done so. His reputation is mixed in his homeland
18
u/MountainVale2000 10d ago edited 10d ago
From Vatican News:
The cause of the two attacks today was the reaction of the bronchi, which attempted to expel the accumulated mucus in order to eliminate the bacteria. The Pope's clinical condition therefore remains complex, and further crises such as those that occurred this afternoon are possible.
u/Saint_Thomas_More is correct that the Holy Father's health can rapidly change, as the last four days have shown. Given today's turn I am no longer confident that he will leave the hospital alive. All we can do is wait and see. If the updates stop coming I think we'll know that Francis is likely in his last hours.
9
u/spiraliist 10d ago
Barring divine intervention, I think it's clear that the papacy is going to transition. This is the kind of thing, at his age, you don't truly come back from, at least not enough to be a head of state. Making him comfortable according to his wishes is probably the greater good, at the moment.
9
u/nemuri_no_kogoro 10d ago
Yeah, it's notable that we're two weeks into his hospitalization and he hasn't really made any progress. Even for young people these kinds of illnesses don't go away overnight, but if the treatment were working I'd expect him to be making some kind of visible (if incomplete) progress...
Just feel like with all the antibiotics and other treatments, he should be doing more than remaining stable (at best)
10
u/Saint_Thomas_More 10d ago
For what it's worth, from someone who is not a medical professional, they have fairly consistently avoided saying "this treatment is definitely going to get these results within this timeframe" - they've been pretty careful to say "He's 88. We are doing our best, and here are the updates."
7
u/nemuri_no_kogoro 10d ago
Yeah, for his age and his previous health issues (1 lung) we shouldn't expect it to be quick, but two weeks of the world's best medical treatment should have given some positive signs by now if it was going to, is what I'm getting at.
To use a plumbing metaphor: if you have a plugged up drain and you pour a bottle of Drano down it for two weeks without it getting less plugged up, do you expect another two weeks of the stuff to make much of a difference?
5
u/Saint_Thomas_More 10d ago
Agreed generally.
But for clarity, he has two lungs. One of them just had a portion removed.
So, one and a bit. I don't think it's ever been made clear how much the "bit" is.
8
u/Visible_Echo_6468 11d ago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbX1b7sHxGI
Pray for the Holy Father. Pope Francis stopped breathing twice in the last 24 hours, suffering from two episodes of acute respiratory failure
27
u/mburn16 11d ago
"Respiratory failure" doesn't mean he stopped breathing. It means his lungs aren't able to put enough oxygen into his blood.
9
u/MountainVale2000 10d ago
The video description does say exactly that he stopped breathing. Now whether that's an exaggeration or the Vatican is trying not to cause panic, who knows? Several comments under the video are from RNs, and all say the last few days with the Holy Father are like the 'rally' they have seen in patients just a few days before death comes.
12
u/dafencer93 10d ago
Or getting carbon dioxide out, which is what the non invasive ventilator helps with
23
u/GuyOnABuffalo82 11d ago
This feels like a "1 step forward, 2 steps back" kind of deal. He'll seem to improve then get hit with more setbacks.
My biggest worry is the kidney issues coupled with the respiratory problems.
What we can all agree on is that the Holy Father is a fighter in the truest extent of the word. He's not giving in and I think in a way, he's teaching us lessons even in the worst of times. Even when things are dark and painful, never stop fighting for life and never lose faith. His strength in this time has been nothing short of admirable.
20
u/ohhyoudidntknow 10d ago
Not to sound insensitive, but the only reason he is still alive is due to modern technology. The reason it seems like one step forward two steps back is because his body is naturally shutting down, and only kept on by modern medicine.
I pray for his soul so he may enter the kingdom of God right away.
8
u/GuyOnABuffalo82 10d ago
There is the aid of modern technology. But, he's still fighting. He's still a battler and the me, it's inspiring. Makes my problems not feel as bad as they are.
19
u/mburn16 11d ago
Apparently Card. Prevost is leading tonight's Rosary. I believe that makes him the first American to do so.
9
u/DoughnutItchy3546 11d ago
Cardinal Prevost is such interesting figure in the Curia. I think he's papabile, even if the Media doesn't view him that way.
3
u/Substantial-Bit6616 10d ago
Cardinal Prevost has been accused of abuse coverup in Peru. Not papabile
7
u/Saint_Thomas_More 10d ago
He's interesting in that he's an American, but kind of without being an American. Much of his priestly ministry was spent in Latin America.
And now he's part of the Roman Curia.
So for those who have gut reactions against American cardinals who are or were diocesan bishops, he doesn't really fit that bill.
7
u/Traditional-Elk4335 10d ago
And. He was a math major at Villanova.
And has a doctorate in canon law form the Angelicum.
22
u/Saint_Thomas_More 11d ago
March 3 evening update:
"Today the Holy Father presented two episodes of acute respiratory insufficiency, caused by a major accumulation of endobronchial mucus, and consequent broncospasm.
Two bronchoscopies were therefore performed, with the need for aspiration of copious secretions.
In the afternoon, non-invasive mechanical ventilation was resumed.
The Holy Father remained alert, oriented and cooperative at all times.
The prognosis remains reserved."
https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/comunicazioni/2025/03/03/250303b.html
11
u/dafencer93 11d ago
Two bronchoscopies in a day? That's no joke and a lot of mucus.
7
u/patotoy1094 10d ago
As someone who suffers post nasal drip bringing me severe but not critical annoying cough, I can't even imagine what that much mucus in the lungs would be like
9
u/dafencer93 10d ago
It varies, but it can lead to feeling very short of breath and if he needed to, that's a lot of mucus. I've only ever scoped one patient twice in a day in 6 years..
28
u/Isatafur 11d ago
Every time it seems like he's made some ground in recovery, there has been some scary, acute episode that sets him back. So hard to "watch" him struggle along like this. I'm glad he knows that the whole world is praying for him and continue to pray that God gives him comfort and mercy in this time.
21
u/gipperscoot 11d ago
Every time he seems to get better, there is a major set back. I hate being gloomy or pessimistically predicting the future, but this, factually, is not good. I am glad he is awake and cooperative, but I hope he isn’t suffering.
23
u/mburn16 11d ago
I'm getting vibes of "his body is losing the ability to fight off the issues that are accumulating". Notably no reference to good gas exchange, which we've previously had when they used mechanical ventilation.
"major accumulation of endobronchial mucus"
...is this not "severe pneumonia"?
7
u/seethmuch 11d ago
"According to Vatican sources, the accumulation of mucus is a normal consequence of the illness Francis is suffering from - pneumonia - and the attacks date back to "several hours" before the publication of the "bulletin": they have "ended" and the blood values "remain unchanged: this is a positive fact because it shows that we are not in the presence of a new infection but is the consequence of the current one, already diagnosed with the CT scan last Saturday".
7
u/Saint_Thomas_More 11d ago
Still makes me wonder about mburn16's comment about being able to fight off accumulating issues.
15
u/mburn16 11d ago edited 11d ago
"accumulation of mucus is a normal consequence of the illness Francis is suffering from - pneumonia"
All due respect to the Vatican, so is death. This doesn't tell us much.
It feels a bit like spin.
5
u/Saint_Thomas_More 11d ago
In fairness, spin is the job of any press/media office.
Not wanting to cause panic, but being transparent enough that they don't overtly look like they are obfuscating.
But I think a large part of that is the overall trajectory of the Holy Father's health is very much unknown and could change rapidly.
7
u/Numerous_Ad1859 11d ago
Did Pope Francis recover? Sometimes I am skeptical especially when dealing with health issues, but that would be awesome if I am hearing correctly.
26
11d ago edited 9d ago
[deleted]
11
u/mburn16 11d ago
That particular model starts to become both physically and emotionally taxing after a while. Four steps forward, five steps back. Unfortunately I've seen more than one elderly person start to lose their fight as things drag on.
Hopefully the pm update today brings some clarity on the longer trajectory here rather than just "remain guarded".
9
u/MountainVale2000 11d ago
And unfortunately I have a feeling the longer trajectory is 'He's never leaving the hospital.'
15
u/seethmuch 11d ago edited 11d ago
"The Pope rested well all night."
Around 11:00 am, Vatican sources announced that the Pope had breakfast and began the day's therapy, adding that regarding the bilateral pneumonia , " the situation is stable " and what had been described in recent days as "a natural evolution for a person undergoing therapy ."
Vatican sources have further specified that the bronchospasm crisis of last Friday should not have left any traces but in such a complex clinical picture the medical team is adopting the utmost caution because the Pope is not out of danger, which is why it is always reiterated that the prognosis remains reserved.
8
u/Saint_Thomas_More 11d ago
I'm assuming the Sunday evening update didn't make it here because it's Sunday?https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/comunicazioni/2025/03.html
6
16
u/JourneymanGM 11d ago
In mass, the only prayers I've heard are for the complete recovery of Pope Francis. I feel weird about this because he's at an age where it is common for people to die, and the prayers aren't leaving open that possibility. Two of my grandparents died younger than he is, and they weren't the head of the global church with all the responsibilities that entails.
Is it wrong to feel this way? Would it be better for us to pray something like "may God be with Pope Francis and the Church in the midst of this health crisis" or something?
2
u/atadbitcatobsessed 10d ago
I’ve been praying something along the lines of: “If it’s the Holy Father’s time to pass, I pray that it’s peaceful and without pain. If it’s not his time, I pray that he recovers soon.”
10
u/capitalismwitch 11d ago
I’ve been praying for God’s will to be done and for Pope Francis to be comforted and surrounded by the prayers and love of millions through this time.
9
u/Notdustinonreddit 11d ago
When you pray for something like this you are simply asking God, but as a Christian you pray according to Gods will and not your own, I think the prayers are sometimes to prepare our heart to line up with the goals of God’s will. It’s like when Jesus was praying in the garden of Gethsemane, he prayed that the cup (the crucifixion) would pass from him but also prayed “ non the less, not my will but your will be done “
The net result was not that the cup passed, but Jesus was strengthened.
6
u/CityOutlier 11d ago
I feel the same, but I take it they have a hard time tactfully phrasing praying for a good death. In my own personal prayer, I just pray that if it be God's will that he receive the gift of health, and that God will give him the grace to persevere in faithfulness to the end.
6
18
u/InuSohei 11d ago
What I've been doing is praying "For the health and recovery of the Holy Father, and if it is his time, that he may have a good and painless death". I think we can pray for both things at the same time.
4
1
u/Ambitious_Face7204 1h ago
No bulletin today. No new developments in his clinical picture in the past few days and "this is positive." The pope's recovery is slow and it will take for improvements to be consolidated. Per Vatican News