By Crispian Balmer
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – The enigmatic absence of Pope Francis continues, with Sunday prayers cancelled for the second consecutive week, as stated by the Vatican. The Pope, undergoing treatment in hospital for double pneumonia, will not make a public appearance on Sunday to conduct his customary prayer session with pilgrims.
Francis was admitted to Gemelli hospital in Rome on February 14 after experiencing breathing difficulties for several days. His medical team has given conflicting updates about his health, informing journalists on Friday that while he remains in a fragile state, his condition is not life-threatening at the moment.
In a brief statement on Saturday, the Vatican mentioned that the pope had “rested well” overnight. However, unlike the previous days, it did not confirm whether he had risen from bed or had his breakfast.
Subsequently, the Holy See press office announced that the text of the Sunday Angelus prayer would be released rather than orally delivered.
This marks the first instance where he has missed two consecutive Angelus prayers due to health issues. Following an intestinal surgery in 2021, he led the Angelus just a week later, and skipped one public Sunday prayer in 2023 after another medical procedure.
For privacy reasons, the Vatican has refrained from releasing any photographs of the 88-year-old pope since his hospitalization earlier this month, as per his doctors’ instructions.
Double pneumonia is a severe infection that can cause inflammation and scarring in both lungs, resulting in breathing difficulties. Described by the Vatican as “complex,” the pope’s infection is caused by two or more microorganisms.
Dr. Sergio Alfieri, a senior member of the Gemelli medical team, expressed that the pope remains in a precarious state. He highlighted the possibility of the infection spreading to his bloodstream and potentially developing into sepsis, which, in conjunction with his respiratory issues and age, could pose significant challenges.
Francis, who has served as pope since 2013, has faced health setbacks over the past two years. Given his susceptibility to lung infections due to a history of pleurisy during his youth that led to the surgical removal of part of his lung, concerns have been raised regarding his ability to continue in his role.
Though some cardinals have suggested the possibility of Francis resigning if he feels incapable of carrying on, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state often referred to as the deputy pope, dismissed such speculations as “futile.”
Parolin emphasized the importance of focusing on the Holy Father’s health, recovery, and eventual return to the Vatican as the primary concerns at present, as conveyed to the Corriere della Sera daily.
(Reporting by Crispian Balmer; Editing by Sharon Singleton and Bernadette Baum)
