Pope Francis’s health remains a concern following a recent respiratory episode. Doctors are taking time to assess the impact of this incident on his overall condition, which remains guarded as he is not entirely out of danger. On Saturday, the Vatican reported that the 88-year-old pontiff experienced a calm night with no further respiratory crises and enjoyed coffee for breakfast, indicating he could breathe unaided without a mask and was capable of eating independently.
The incident that raised alarms occurred Friday afternoon when the Pope suffered a bronchial spasm, exacerbated by inhaling vomit, which led to a sudden decline in his respiratory status. Medical staff responded promptly, aspirating the vomit and administering noninvasive mechanical ventilation. Despite the alarming nature of this episode, Francis remained conscious and alert, cooperating throughout the medical interventions. Fortunately, he showed good oxygen exchange during treatment.
This episode represents a setback following a brief period of positive updates from the medical team at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he has been receiving treatment since February 14 for pneumonia stemming from bronchitis. A pulmonary expert expressed that this recent event underlines the Pope’s fragility, noting that his condition could rapidly change for the worse given his age and previous lung surgery.
While doctors indicated that the situation was different from a previous serious respiratory crisis in February, the events of Friday serve as a stark reminder of Francis’s precarious health. Although he was responsive and showed improvement in gas exchange from the ventilation, caution persists regarding his overall prognosis. Medical experts highlighted the significance of his previous lung resection and current health challenges, stressing the need for ongoing observation as they implement noninvasive ventilation techniques to prevent more invasive measures.
As the medical team continues to evaluate his condition, the public remains hopeful for the Pope’s recovery, while acknowledging the complexity and seriousness of his ongoing health issues.