Pope’s Medical Team Reveals Critical Moments During Pneumonia Battle, Where Life Support was Nearly Discontinued
Pope Francis’ battle with pneumonia was so severe that his medical team briefly considered ceasing treatment, allowing him to pass away peacefully. This revelation came from Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the head of the Pope’s medical team at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, as he shared details of the pontiff’s critical health scare.
On February 28, Pope Francis faced a terrifying breathing crisis, nearly choking on his own vomit, which put his life in immediate danger. Alfieri revealed that this incident left the medical team at a crossroads. “We had to decide whether to stop everything and let him go, or to continue with aggressive treatment, risking further damage to his organs,” Alfieri explained in an interview with Italy’s Corriere della Sera on March 25.
Ultimately, the decision was made to push forward with treatment, despite the high risks involved. “We took this path, and thankfully, his body responded,” Alfieri added. The Pope’s condition was worsened by his history of pleurisy and the loss of part of one lung in his youth, which made the pneumonia especially dangerous for the 88-year-old pontiff.
Pope Francis had been hospitalised on February 14 for bronchitis, which quickly escalated into double pneumonia. His condition worsened with multiple “respiratory crises,” which involved severe coughing fits due to constricted airways. The Pope’s personal nurse, Massimiliano Strappetti, played a pivotal role in urging the medical team to continue the treatments despite the risks, saying, “Try everything; don’t give up.”
The medical team had feared serious organ damage, particularly to his kidneys and bone marrow, but continued the treatment as they hoped for a positive response. Thankfully, Pope Francis’ health improved, and he was able to return to the Vatican on Sunday, after spending five weeks in the hospital.
Since returning to the Vatican, Pope Francis has been prescribed a period of rest, expected to last for at least two months, to ensure his full recovery. It remains unclear how much he will be seen in public during this time.
Reflecting on the Pope’s first public appearance after his hospitalisation, when he greeted well-wishers from the hospital balcony, Dr. Alfieri expressed the profound emotional impact it had on him. “Seeing him leave the room in white, it was as if the man had become the Pope once again,” said Alfieri.
