Pope Francis, 88 and with a history of respiratory ailments, suffered another respiratory crisis on Friday. The Vatican reported that he inhaled his vomit after a coughing fit due to bronchial spasms, leading to a worsening of his respiratory condition.
The pope had spent the morning undergoing respiratory physiotherapy and prayer in the chapel before the crisis struck. He required non-invasive ventilation, meaning he was not intubated and remained alert and conscious throughout.
Francis’s doctors said it would take 24 to 48 hours to assess whether the crisis has worsened his condition. The pope is now wearing a mask to help him breathe, as he did at other points during his stay at Gemelli Hospital in Rome.
Despite previous reports of improvement, Austen Ivereigh, Pope Francis’s biographer, expressed concern, saying, “It’s a setback.” Father Felicien Abengalo, a priest in Rome, shared similar worries, stating that the pope’s illness is not minor and considering his age, he must be concerned.
The Vatican’s office on church teaching and close aides to the pope led thousands of faithful in saying the rosary at St. Peter’s Square on Friday evening to pray for Pope Francis’s health. People joined in prayer, united in their concern for the leader of the Roman Catholic Church and the world in need of healing from war, poverty, and sickness.
The incident has renewed concerns about the pope’s prognosis, but with prayers and positive gestures, people are coming together to support him during this challenging time.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/28/world/europe/pope-francis-health-setback-bronchial-spasm.html