Since Friday, Pope Francis has been receiving treatment for a respiratory infection at the Gemelli Clinic in Rome. Initially, he had fever spikes, which, according to the Vatican, improved on Saturday, prompting an adjustment in treatment. On Monday afternoon, the doctors announced that they were treating a polymicrobial respiratory infection and needed to adjust the therapy again. The examinations indicated a "complex clinical picture" that might necessitate an appropriate hospital stay.

Numerous Appointments of Pope Francis Canceled Due to Illness

Shortly after this announcement, which, like any other, likely had to overcome several Vatican authorization hurdles, the official cancellation of the weekly general audience on Wednesday followed. At the same time, it was heard that further appointments of the Pope for the rest of the week had already been canceled. Pope Francis is said to be "in good spirits," as has been reported from the Vatican for days. He sleeps well, has breakfast, and reads the newspaper. However, how the 88-year-old is really doing remains unclear. Photos are not being distributed; only his closest associates and the Catholic priest from Gaza, with whom the Pope has almost daily video calls, might have a more accurate picture.

It was different in June 2023, when a bowel operation was required for Francis. At that time, the Vatican was unusually communicative: A press center was set up in the Gemelli Hospital, and the responsible surgeon, Sergio Alfieri, informed journalists in detail about the procedure and the Pope's recovery, either in writing or via press conference. The physician is said to have been the driving force behind the information campaign, convincing the Pope to be more open about his illness. Although still employed at Gemelli and, according to Kathpress, in contact with Francis' doctors, the treatment of a respiratory infection does not fall under his responsibility, and the communication falls behind that of 2023.

Newspapers Already Reported on the Death of Pope Francis

But perhaps the reticence is not solely due to the new medical care. It is possible that the condition of the most prominent Roman patient is indeed very serious. The summary communications from the Vatican leave much room for speculation. Last weekend, two newspaper editorial offices claimed to have already learned of Francis' death. The obituaries of Vatican journalists are either written or being updated. They want to be prepared, as too little is known about the actual condition of the Pope, who has been struggling with respiratory infections for years. In March 2023, Francis was last treated as an inpatient for this reason. At that time, the Vatican initially tried to declare the hospital stay as a "planned examination." After contrary information from Italian daily newspapers, they admitted to a respiratory infection "that will require appropriate medical treatment in the hospital for a few days." After four days, during which the Vatican reported a steady recovery, Francis was allowed to leave the clinic.

Pope Francis in "Stable" Condition

On Tuesday, the Pope began his fifth day in the hospital this time. Instead of an improvement, there is talk of a "stable" condition - at what level is unknown. The comparatively concrete announcement about the polymicrobial respiratory infection on Monday afternoon was an exception. The Vatican currently sends out a brief message in the evening about the entire day's events of the Pope, but exact laboratory findings or fever curves are not included. Therefore, Pope spokesperson Bruni and Vatican journalists will continue to meet every morning for a question-and-answer game that leads to few concrete insights and ever-new speculations.

(APA/Red)

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