Pope Francis Recounts Near-Death Experience During Hospitalization for Pneumonia
VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis, the 88-year-old leader of the Catholic Church, recently disclosed that he came close to death during his recent hospitalization. A physician involved in his care revealed that the pontiff told medical staff, “It’s bad,” as they worked to save his life. The Pope’s health scare and recovery have raised concerns about his upcoming engagements, including a scheduled meeting with King Charles and Queen Camilla, and his Easter schedule.
Critical Condition During Pneumonia Battle
Professor Sergio Alfieri, a member of the medical team at Gemelli Hospital who treated Pope Francis, shared details of the pontiff’s treatment and his close call with death in an interview. Last month, global concern intensified when the Vatican announced that Pope Francis, who had a portion of his lung removed in his youth, was experiencing breathing difficulties and required oxygen support.
Professor Alfieri recounted the night of February 28 as the most precarious. “He whispered: ‘it’s bad’,” the doctor stated, noting the emotional reaction of those close to the Pope. “For the first time I saw tears in the eyes of some of the people around him. People who, I understood during this period of hospitalization, sincerely love him, like a father.”
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The medical team recognized the gravity of the situation. “We were all aware that the situation had worsened further and there was a risk that he wouldn’t make it,” Professor Alfieri admitted.
Life-Saving Medical Decisions
Faced with a critical juncture, doctors had to make critical decisions about the Pope’s care. “We had to choose whether to stop and let him go or force it and try with all the drugs and therapies possible, running the very high risk of damaging other organs. And in the end, we took this path,” Professor Alfieri explained.
When questioned about the Pope’s awareness of his life-threatening condition, Professor Alfieri affirmed, “Yes, also because he was always alert. Even when his condition worsened, he was fully conscious.” He added, “That evening was terrible, he knew, like us, that he might not survive the night. We saw the man who was suffering.”
According to Professor Alfieri, Pope Francis insisted on transparency regarding his health status. “However, from the first day he asked us to tell him the truth and he wanted us to tell the truth about his condition,” the doctor revealed.
Risk of Organ Damage and Recovery
Professor Alfieri further disclosed the challenges faced during treatment. “For days we risked damage to the kidneys and the spinal cord but we continued, then the body responded to the treatment and the lung infection eased.”
Second Critical Moment: Choking Incident
In addition to battling pneumonia, Pope Francis experienced another critical episode during his recovery. Professor Alfieri recounted, “We were emerging from the hardest period, while he was eating Pope Francis had a regurgitation and inhaled.”
This incident presented a new life-threatening risk. “It was the second really critical moment because in these cases — if not promptly rescued — you risk sudden death in addition to complications in the lungs which were already the most compromised organs,” Professor Alfieri stated. “It was terrible, we really thought we wouldn’t make it.”
Pope’s Resilience and Gratitude
Professor Alfieri highlighted Pope Francis’s awareness of his precarious health situation and his remarkable resilience. “He always realized everything, but I think his awareness was also the reason that kept him alive,” he observed.
The doctor also noted the Pope’s disciplined approach to life. “In the past, when we spoke, I asked him how he manages to keep up this pace and he always answered: “I have method and rules.” He further added, “In addition to a very strong heart, he has incredible resources. I think that the fact that the whole world was praying for him also contributed to this.”
Referring to the role of prayer in the Pope’s recovery, Professor Alfieri remarked, “I can say that on two occasions the situation was lost and then it happened like a miracle. Of course, he was a very cooperative patient. He underwent all the therapies without ever complaining.”
Pizza for Hospital Staff and Eagerness to Return Home
To express his gratitude, Pope Francis showed his appreciation to the hospital staff by providing pizza. “He gave the money to one of the collaborators and offered the pizza to whoever had assisted him that day,” Professor Alfieri shared.
The Pope’s eagerness to return to the Vatican was also evident. Professor Alfieri recounted, “It was a continuous improvement, and I understood that he had decided to return to Santa Marta when, one morning, he said to me: ‘I’m still alive, when are we going home?'”
Professor Alfieri concluded, “The next day he looked out the window, looked for the microphone and addressed the lady with the yellow flowers. To me it seemed like a clear signal to say I’m back and I’m fully recovered.” Doctors had previously indicated that Pope Francis would require approximately two months for full recuperation following his release from the hospital.