Pope Francis’ doctors have made a startling revelation, stating that the 88-year-old pontiff came so close to death that they considered halting his treatment to allow him to “die in peace.”
According to Francis’ medical team, the Pope suffered a severe respiratory crisis on February 28, during which he nearly choked on his own vomit. “There was a real risk he might not make it,” said Dr. Sergio Alfieri from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital in an interview with Reuters.
Pope’s Critical Health Episodes
Francis had been hospitalized at Gemelli since February 14 due to bronchitis, which later worsened into double pneumonia. Given his medical history—having had one lung removed at the age of 21 due to pleurisy—this was an especially dangerous situation.
Dr. Alfieri revealed that Pope Francis had “two very critical episodes” in the past five weeks, during which his life was at risk. In an interview with Italy’s Corriere della Sera, he explained the difficult decision doctors had to make:
“We had to choose whether to stop treatment and let him go or to push forward with all possible drugs and therapies, running the highest risk of damaging his other organs.”
Eventually, the medical team decided to continue aggressive treatment, leading to his recovery.
Road to Recovery
Despite the severity of his condition, Pope Francis was never placed on a ventilator and remained conscious and engaged throughout his treatment.
On March 3, after being discharged from the hospital, he made his first public appearance from his window at Gemelli Hospital, blessing the faithful. The Pope expressed his gratitude to Catholics worldwide for their prayers, which was also broadcast via an audio message at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City.
While doctors state that he still requires at least two months of recuperation at the Vatican, Pope Francis is expected to resume work soon, despite not being fully recovered from pneumonia.
A Close Call
The revelation about Pope Francis’ near-fatal condition has raised concerns about his long-term health and ability to fulfill his papal duties. However, his resilience and determination to continue working have reassured many of his followers worldwide.
Sources By Agencies
