Pope Solicits Prayers Amid Health Struggles
Pope Francis on Sunday asked Catholics around the world to pray for him as he remains in a critical but stable condition at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.
The 88-year-old pontiff has been receiving treatment for double pneumonia and chronic bronchitis for over a week.
In a message written from his hospital bed, Pope Francis expressed appreciation for the medical team caring for him and for the global outpouring of support.
“I am confidently continuing my hospitalisation at the Gemelli Hospital, carrying on with the necessary treatment; and rest is also part of the therapy! I sincerely thank the doctors and health workers of this hospital for the attention they are showing me and the dedication with which they carry out their service among the sick,” the Pope stated, according Reuters.
He also acknowledged the letters, drawings, and messages he has received, particularly from children, adding, “Thank you for this closeness, and for the prayers of comfort I have received from all over the world! I entrust you all to the intercession of Mary, and I ask you to pray for me,” he added.
According to Vatican sources who spoke to Reuters on Sunday, Pope Francis continues to receive a high flow of oxygen, offering cheering news that he has not suffered further crises.
“He is eating normally, and clinical tests are ongoing”, the Vatican said.
The Pope was revealed to have experienced a prolonged respiratory crisis that required high-flow oxygen therapy on Saturday night.
According to the Vatican, he also underwent blood transfusions due to thrombocytopenia, a condition linked to anemia.
Doctors have described his prognosis as “reserved.”
While they have ruled out sepsis—a potentially life-threatening complication—there remains a risk that the infection could spread, which they say is their primary concern.
Head of the Pope’s medical team, Sergio Alfieri, addressed concerns about his condition, stating, “Is he out of danger? No. But if the question is, ‘Is he in danger of death?’ the answer is ‘No.’”
Pope Francis has a history of respiratory issues, having lost part of one of his lungs to pleurisy in his youth. He also battled an acute case of pneumonia in 2023, which further complicates his current condition.
As the Pope’s health remains fragile, speculation has grown over a potential resignation, though the Vatican is her to comment on it.
His absence from leading Sunday prayers for the second consecutive week has further fueled discussion around his ability to continue fulfilling his duties as leader of the Catholic Church.
Despite his health struggles, Pope Francis remains engaged with global issues. In his message delivered in his absens on Sunday, he reflected on the ongoing war in Ukraine, calling it a “painful and shameful occasion for the whole of humanity.”
As the conflict reaches its third anniversary the pontiff urged Christians to pray for peace in Palestine, Israel, Myanmar, Sudan, and other conflict zones.
Pope Solicits Prayers Amid Health Struggles is first published on The Whistler Newspaper