Pope has bilateral pneumonia: Politico claims he is on verge of death
Pope (photo: Getty Images)
Pope Francis has been diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia. A chest CT scan conducted on February 18 revealed a complex condition requiring further pharmacological treatment, according to Vatican News and Politico.
Specifically, the first edition released a statement from the Holy See’s press office, providing an update on the Pope’s health as he remains in the hospital since February 14.
"Laboratory tests, chest X-rays, and the clinical condition of the Holy Father continue to present a complex picture. A polymicrobial infection, which has arisen in the context of bronchiectasis and asthmatic bronchitis, and has required the use of corticosteroid and antibiotics, makes the therapeutic treatment more complex. A follow-up chest CT scan, to which the Holy Father was subjected this afternoon—prescribed by the Vatican medical team and the medical staff of the “A. Gemelli” Polyclinic Foundation - revealed the onset of bilateral pneumonia, requiring additional pharmacological therapy," the statement read.
Despite this, Pope Francis is reportedly in good spirits. In the morning, he received Communion, and throughout the day, he alternated between rest, prayer, and reading.
"He expresses his gratitude for the support he feels at this time and kindly asks that prayers for him continue," the press office added.
Version according to Politico sources
A day earlier, Politico, citing sources, reported that Pope Francis was allegedly on the brink of death. The edition noted that this is the latest health crisis for the 88-year-old pontiff, who had part of his lung removed in his youth. In recent years, his condition has been steadily weakening.
According to two sources, Francis is suffering from severe pain and has privately expressed certainty that he will not survive this time. The sources revealed that on Sunday, doctors at Gemelli Hospital upset the Pope by forbidding him from delivering his usual morning Angelus prayer, which he rarely missed, even while hospitalized. Now, he is acting strictly under doctors' orders.
Another source reported that the Pope initially refused to go to the hospital but was explicitly told that he risked dying if he remained in his room at the Vatican.
As Francis’s health has deteriorated over the past month, he has taken steps to finalize key initiatives and appoint figures sympathetic to him to crucial positions - securing his legacy after a progressive papacy marked by sharp ideological divisions.
Recently, Pope Francis was hospitalized due to suspected bronchitis. For more details on his condition, read the article by RBC-Ukraine.
