Pope Had Coughing Fit And Inhaled Vomit, Vatican Says | rssama.com

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis suffered an isolated coughing fresh connected Friday that resulted successful him inhaling vomit, requiring non-invasive mechanical ventilation, nan Vatican said successful relaying a setback successful his two-week agelong conflict against double pneumonia.

The 88-year-old pope remained conscious and alert astatine each times and cooperated pinch nan maneuvers to thief him recover. He responded well, pinch a bully level of oxygen speech and was continuing to deterioration a disguise to person supplemental oxygen, nan Vatican said.

The improvement marked a setback successful what had been 2 successive days of progressively upbeat reports from doctors treating Francis astatine Rome’s Gemelli infirmary since Feb. 14.

The episode, which occurred successful nan early afternoon, resulted successful a “sudden worsening of nan respiratory picture.” Doctors decided to support Francis’ prognosis arsenic guarded and indicated they needed 24-48 hours to measure really and if nan section has impacted his wide objective condition.

The episode, which doctors described arsenic an “isolated situation of bronchial spasm” was a coughing fresh successful which Francis inhaled vomit. The longer respiratory situation Francis suffered connected Feb. 22 was a situation successful really breathing, nan Vatican said.

Doctors did not resume referring to Francis successful “critical condition,” which has been absent from their statements for 3 days now. But they person been cautious successful declaring him retired of threat entirely, fixed nan complexity of his case.

Candles for Pope Francis are seen astatine nan Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic, successful Rome, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025 wherever Pope Francis has been hospitalized since Friday, Feb. 14. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

via Associated Press

The Vatican has already made replacement plans for Ash Wednesday adjacent week, making clear Francis still had a agelong roadworthy ahead. Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, a Vatican charismatic and erstwhile vicar of Rome, will preside complete nan March 5 ceremonial and convoy that inaugurates nan church’s intense Lenten play starring up to Easter successful April.

Earlier Friday, Francis had spent nan greeting alternating precocious flows of supplemental oxygen pinch a disguise and praying successful nan chapel. He had breakfast, publication nan day’s newspapers and was receiving respiratory physiotherapy, nan Vatican said.

The Vatican besides published a archive signed by Francis connected Feb. 26 “From nan Gemelli Polyclinic,” a caller tagline that showed Francis was still moving from nan hospital.

Prayers continued to move in

In Mexico City, a fewer twelve group gathered Thursday nighttime astatine nan cathedral to believe for Francis’ recovery.

“He is for illustration portion of nan family,” said Araceli Gutiérrez, who treasures nan clip she saw nan pope during his travel to nan state of astir 100 cardinal Catholics successful 2016. “That’s why we consciousness truthful concerned for him.”

María Teresa Sánchez, who was visiting from Colombia pinch her sister, said that she has ever felt adjacent to Francis — nan first Latin American pope.

“That’s for illustration having a comparative wrong nan higher-ups, pinch God,” she said. “He has done truthful overmuch for religion; he’s specified a humble person.”

A man prays astatine nan Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic, successful Rome, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025 wherever Pope Francis is hospitalized since Friday, Feb. 14.(AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

via Associated Press

Upcoming almanac successful question

Given his continued hospitalization, Francis’ near-term upcoming almanac of events was being changed: The Vatican canceled a Holy Year assemblage scheduled for Saturday, and it remained to beryllium seen if Francis would skip his Sunday noon blessing for nan 3rd week successful a row. With Ash Wednesday now delegated to a cardinal, nan adjacent awesome events travel during Holy Week and Easter, which this twelvemonth falls connected April 20.

In past years, erstwhile Francis has battled bronchitis and influenza successful winter, he curbed his information successful Ash Wednesday and Holy Week events, which telephone for nan pope to beryllium outdoors successful nan acold starring services, participating successful processions and presiding complete prayers successful nan intense play successful which nan religious commemorate Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection.

Beyond that, Francis has a fewer awesome events coming up that he presumably would dream to support if good enough. On April 27, he is owed to canonize Carlo Acutis, considered to beryllium nan first millennial and digital-era saint. The Vatican considers nan Italian teenager, who died of leukemia successful 2006 astatine nan property of 15, an inspiration for young Catholics.

Another important assignment is nan May 24 commemoration of nan 1,700th day of nan Council of Nicea, Christianity’s first ecumenical council. The belief leader of nan world’s Orthodox Christians, Patriarch Bartholomew I, has invited Francis to subordinate him successful Iznik, Turkey, to commemorate nan anniversary, which he has called an important motion of reconciliation betwixt nan Catholic and Orthodox churches. Before he sewage sick, Francis said he hoped to go, though nan Vatican hasn’t confirmed nan trip.

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Maria Hernandez contributed from Mexico City.

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