By: Elizabeth Druist
You may have heard something about Pope Francis’ hospitalization about a month ago, but what about now? Has his condition changed? Is he still in the hospital? And what even caused his hospitalization?
On Valentine’s Day, Pope Francis was admitted to the Gemelli Hospital due to a bout of bronchitis “that made it difficult for him to speak,” according to PBS. The Pope, after having part of a lung removed as a young man, has battled a history of lung problems throughout his life. A few days after being hospitalized, the Pope developed double pneumonia. Coupled with a respiratory infection and other airway conditions the Pope initially contracted, his outlook was not good as news reports wavered between describing his condition as “peaceful,” “slightly improved,” “delicate,” and “critical.”
At any rate, Pope Francis was in critical condition until March tenth, according to the New York Times. Doctors reported that he was no longer in imminent danger but would remain hospitalized. Thankfully, as of March 24th, the Pope has been discharged after five weeks. Due to the oxygen treatment he received, doctors explained that the Pope would experience speech difficulty and it would take time for his voice to return to normal.
Throughout the ordeal, the Holy Father issued a series of statements. In one social media post, he wrote, “I have recently received many messages of affection, and I have been particularly struck by the letters and drawings from children. Thank you for your closeness, and for the consoling prayers I have received from all over the world!” He also highlighted the “painful and shameful” third-year anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war, and invited listeners to pray for peace throughout the world.
Although it’s rare for a pope to step down from the role of papacy (only six have ever resigned), the late Pope Benedict XVI shocked the Catholic community when he decided to give up the position, citing old age and decreased strength. Many wondered if Pope Francis would follow suit, but as he stated in his memoir, written about a year ago, he has no intentions of resigning. However, it’s true that soon after Pope Francis was chosen by the College of Cardinals in 2013, he wrote a letter of resignation to take effect if “medical problems impeded him from carrying out his duties or from freely announcing a resignation,” according to AP News. Fortunately, Pope Francis has recovered significantly, though not fully, and this will not be necessary for his current illness.
To sum it all up, the Pope was hospitalized due to bronchitis, contracted double pneumonia and a few infections, but recovered after thirty-eight days and was discharged on the 23rd. Though many rumors circulated about his resignation, Pope Francis has not mentioned stepping down and remains in office.
The Bishop Kelly Newspaper 