THE Pope’s funeral is being rehearsed after the ailing Pontiff warned he may not survive this bout of pneumonia.
The Swiss Guard, the force responsible for the Pope’s protection, is reportedly preparing the funeral procedure for the 88-year-old pontiff in anticipation of his death.
Catholics are gathering near the hospital where he is being treated as fears for his health intensify, reported Swiss newspaper Blick.
However, the captain of the Swiss Guard, Christian Kühne, denied this report on Wednesday.
He told the Catholic news agency KNA: “We are continuing to work normally,” and stressed that regular service operations would continue unchanged.
The Pope has been staying in a special ward in Rome’s Gemelli hospital since Friday, where he was admitted after a week of suffering from bronchitis.
The Vatican revealed on Monday that he was battling a “complex clinical picture” which involved a “polymicrobial infection of the respiratory tract”.
Officials clarified yesterday that he has been diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs.
Then, two people close to the Pontiff claimed Francis had confided to them that he “might not make it this time”, according to a report by Politico.
The sources also apparently said the Pope is suffering from intense pain and is “tying up loose ends” ahead of his successor.
Despite a Vatican update on Monday indicating a stable condition and being fever-free, there was still hope for the Pope’s recovery.
But the confirmation of double-lung pneumonia and Francis’s reported pessimism over his outlook have cast a gloomy shadow on Catholics worldwide.
Due to his health, all of the Pope’s scheduled events for the week have been either canceled or rescheduled, with him feeling distressed over not being able to deliver his usual morning Angelus sermon.
A statement issued by the Vatican yesterday read: “The chest CT scan that the Holy Father underwent this afternoon […] demonstrated the onset of bilateral pneumonia that required further pharmacological therapy.”
They added that Francis’ respiratory infection also involved asthmatic bronchitis, which required the use of an extensive antibiotic treatment.
The Pope had part of his lung removed years ago, meaning he is particularly vulnerable to pulmonary conditions.
How will the next Pope be chosen?
By Patrick Harrington, Foreign news reporter
THE Pope has a huge responsibility as the global head of the Catholic Church.
Traditionally, a senior cardinal assumes the role late-on in their life and continues until their death.
That is not always the case, however, as with Pope Benedict XVI who stepped back after eight years due to ill health.
When the Pope dies, his passing must first be confirmed by the Chamberlain of the Catholic church – in the presence of the Papal Master of Ceremonies and other officials.
The Chamberlain then informs the cardinal vicar for Rome, who passes the news onto the city and the world.
After nine days of mourning, during which time the Pope is buried, the task of choosing a new leader arises.
All 252 cardinals will be summoned to Rome from around the world for the Papal election, called Conclave.
The new Pope is decided by a vote, which can be participated in by up to 115 cardinals.
The number is whittled down by excluding any cardinals over 80.
There are secret discussions between the cardinals about who would be a good successor.
Then voting begins in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel – and continues until a consensus is reached.
However, if there is still no consensus after 12 days, then a new Pope can be appointed with more than 50 per cent of the votes.
Locals are kept updated on the process by twice-daily plumes of smoke coming from the chapel.
Black smoke means the vote is still being deliberated, and when white smoke appears it means a decision has been reached.
Expert Italian pulmonologist Barbara Moscatelli told the National Catholic Reporter that the condition is “neither easy to define or to manage”.
However, even yesterday the Pope was said to be in good spirits and grateful for all the prayers for his speedy recovery.
As his health has deteriorated, Francis has moved to complete initiatives whilst he still can, and appoint certain figures to key posts who, he hopes, will continue his mission for progressive reform of the Church.
One source told Politico that Pope tactically extended the term of one figure – Giovanni Battista Re – as dean of the College of Cardinals, before being admitted to hospital.
This is the role that will oversee the Conclave when the next Pope is selected.
Francis’s intervention was apparently controversial as it bypassed a scheduled vote on the position in order to ensure the voting process plays out as he wants.
He is too old to vote, but insiders said he would be able to influence the lobbying that goes on during the secret discussions in the Sistine Chapel.
A source told Politico: “The run-up to the conclave is more important as that’s where lobbying goes on.”
Since being elected in 2013, Francis has strived to make the Church more inclusive by opening up key roles to women and people from the LGBT community.
The Vatican’s statement on the Pope’s health 17/02/2025
“The laboratory tests, chest X-ray and clinical conditions of the Holy Father continue to present a complex picture.
“The polymicrobial infection, which arose in the context of bronchiectasis and asthmatic bronchitis, and which required the use of antibiotic cortisone therapy, makes the therapeutic treatment more complex.
“The control chest CT scan that the Holy Father underwent this afternoon, prescribed by the Vatican health team and the medical team of the Fondazione Policlinico ‘A. Gemelli’, demonstrated the onset of bilateral pneumonia that required further pharmacological therapy.
“Nonetheless, Pope Francis is in good spirits. This morning he received the Eucharist and, during the day, he alternated rest with prayer and reading texts.
“He gives thanks for the closeness he feels at this time and asks, with a grateful heart, that we continue to pray for him.”
