Pope Francis to stay in hospital because of ‘complex clinical picture’
Guardian3 days ago
Pope Francis Battles Double Pneumonia Amid Complex Health Crisis
Above: A candle with a picture of Pope Francis is set at the bottom of a statue of Pope John Paul II at the Gemelli Polyclinic where Pope Francis is hospitalized. Image copyright: Stefano Costantino/Contributor/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
The Facts
After he was initially admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital with worsening bronchitis, the Vatican said Tuesday that Pope Francis, 88, has developed bilateral pneumonia affecting both lungs, requiring additional pharmacological therapy.
Medical tests revealed a polymicrobial infection of the respiratory tract, complicated by bronchiectasis and asthmatic bronchitis, necessitating a combination of antibiotic and cortisone therapy to address the complex clinical picture.
The Pope's medical history includes partial lung removal in his youth, hospitalizations for bronchitis in March 2023, abdominal surgery later that year, and various mobility issues requiring wheelchair use.
The Spin
Left narrative
As Pope Francis battles yet another wave of health issues, from respiratory infections to abdominal surgeries, it's important to remember how much he's given the world despite these obstacles. He's continuously preached kindness and decency in the face of growing fascism across the West, choosing to fight against anti-immigrant and anti-environment sentiments with the wise words of the gospel.
Right narrative
While everyone should pray for Pope Francis' health, what seems to be the closing chapter of his papacy should also come with serious reflection. Francis has not only condemned sovereign, God-fearing countries like the US for promoting their own best interest, but he's let left-wing radicals, particularly on LGBT and immigration issues, go unquestioned. The Church needs a strong leader who believes in his Church, something Francis has not been.