(CNN) – Medical staff members who considered ending Pope Francis to end his treatment, according to a leading doctor, after an 88-year-old clergyman was hospitalized for respiratory illness.
Professor Sergio Alfieri told the Italian newspaper Corriere della Serra that the most important moment came when the Pope was in a breathing crisis on February 28th, when he inhaled his own vomit.
“We had to take a very high risk of damaging other organs and choose to stop him and let him go or force him.
Alfieri, who led the team at Gemeri Hospital in Rome, said the decision to continue treatment was made by Francis’ nurse Masimiliano Strapetti. He reportedly told Alfieri:
Francis left the hospital on March 23rd, 38 days after 38 days in the hospital since his election as Pope 12 years ago. The bishop had many respiratory crisis while he was in hospital, but Alfieri had previously said that two of them had put the Pope’s life in danger.
During his stay, the Vatican provided extraordinary levels of details about Francis’ condition.
Alfieri said this was the Pope’s decision and that the Vatican news was prepared by the medical team with some additional additions from Francis’ personal assistant. “From the first day he asked us to tell him the truth and he wanted us to tell him the truth about his condition… nothing changed or omitted.”
According to the Vatican, Francis will return to his home in Casa Santa Malta to receive treatments, including mobility and breath-related physical therapy, particularly for audio recovery.
The doctor also encouraged the Pope to receive 24-hour medical assistance, including oxygen therapy.
The Pope gradually returns to work. He has shown determination to recover, resume some duties and sign documents. Francis has not led Angelus’ prayers on the past seven Sundays, but he has still provided reflections every week. Recently, they are seeking “peace” in war-torn regions.
“You have continued to pray for me with so much patience and patience. Thank you so much. I will pray for you too,” he said in a Sunday X post. “Let’s pray together for peace, especially in martyred Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.”
