Pope Francis alert after experiencing respiratory failure
Pope Francis experienced two episodes of acute respiratory failure on Monday afternoon, requiring immediate medical intervention to clear mucus from his lungs, the Vatican has confirmed. Despite the severity of his condition, the 88-year-old pontiff remains alert, focused, and cooperative, though he has resumed using an oxygen mask and mechanical ventilation to assist his breathing.
This latest health setback marks the third serious downturn since the Pope was hospitalized 18 days ago with pneumonia. His condition has fluctuated over the past weeks, with doctors initially treating him for bronchitis before diagnosing pneumonia in both lungs. Last Friday, the Vatican reported that Pope Francis suffered an isolated breathing crisis involving vomiting but had responded well to oxygen therapy. By Sunday, officials announced that he no longer required non-invasive mechanical ventilation, relying only on high-flow oxygen therapy to aid his recovery. However, following Monday’s setbacks, he has now returned to using mechanical ventilation, signaling a decline in his respiratory health.
The Vatican has remained cautiously optimistic, yet sources stress that his condition remains complex and unpredictable. Doctors are closely monitoring the Pope, who is particularly vulnerable to lung infections due to a history of pleurisy, which led to a partial lung removal in his youth.
His illness has meant that he has been unable to deliver his traditional Angelus prayer in person for three consecutive Sundays. Instead, the Vatican has been publishing his written messages, prepared from his hospital room in Rome. In his latest address, the Pope expressed gratitude for prayers and appreciation for his medical team’s care.
He is also set to miss the Ash Wednesday mass and procession, marking the beginning of Lent, a six-week period leading up to Easter. This absence is significant, as Lent is one of the most important seasons in the Catholic Church, and the Pope’s participation is traditionally a focal point for the global Catholic community. Across Rome and Vatican City, Catholics have been gathering nightly to pray for the Pope’s recovery. Hundreds of faithful, including priests, nuns, and pilgrims, assembled in St. Peter’s Square on Monday, some carrying rosary beads as they walked towards St. Peter’s Basilica.
Among them was Javier, a Romanian priest, who shared his concerns. “I come every night to pray, but tonight I am really worried. We still have hope, but it doesn’t look good,” he said. Patricia, a Spanish Catholic from Toledo, echoed these sentiments, saying the Pope has “opened the doors of the church to many, like LGBT people”, but expressed concern that the next pontiff may take a more conservative direction. Many visitors have also gone to the Gemelli Hospital, hoping to see the Pope appear at his window, as he has done in past illnesses. However, his condition remains too fragile for him to greet the public.
Vatican insiders emphasize that Pope Francis remains in a delicate and unpredictable state. While officials have refrained from making alarming statements, they acknowledge that the situation is serious. His medical team continues to monitor his condition, though it remains unclear when or if he will be able to resume his full duties. For now, the Catholic world waits in prayer, hoping for the Pope’s recovery as his health remains at a critical juncture.