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The Rev. Enzo Fortunato, who leads a new Vatican committee focused on children, praised Pope Francis for his resilience in the face of challenges. Despite his health issues, the Pope continues with his daily routine, even taking the Eucharist, demonstrating his willingness to embrace the realities of illness.
Pope at risk of complications
The Vatican has not disclosed details about how Pope Francis is reacting to the medications he is receiving, except to mention that he doesn’t have a fever. Given his age and health conditions, such as limited physical activity and wheelchair use, the Pope is at a higher risk for complications, especially in managing fluid build-up in his lungs.
Dr. Meredith McCormack, a specialist from Johns Hopkins University, explained that medical professionals will monitor how Pope Francis responds to treatments, which may involve physiotherapy to aid in lung clearance. While severe pneumonia cases usually require one to two weeks of treatment, the recovery process for an elderly patient like the Pope might be more protracted.
“Lack of worsening would be an encouraging sign,” said McCormack, who is not involved in Francis’ care.
Faithful from Bolivia pray for Pope Francis outside the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome on Feb. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
The Vatican has given no indication of how long the pope might remain hospitalized, only saying that the treatment of such a “complex clinical picture” would require an “adequate” stay.
Pilgrimages continue despite pope’s canceled engagements
Despite the less than positive news about Francis’ condition, Francis was receiving get-well drawings and cards from children being treated in the hospital’s oncology ward. And at the Vatican on Wednesday, Holy Year pilgrimages continued, with groups of faithful walking through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica on a chilly and cloudy day.
“We are very happy to be here but we are also sad for the pope’s sickness,” said Amparo Alcala’, who was leading a large group of pilgrims from Valencia, Spain. “He is doing great things, most of all for the women in the church, and this gives us a lot of joy. We are praying for his recovery and that he might come back, if this is God’s will.”
A group of South Korean pilgrims in traditional costumes had planned to attend Francis’ weekly Wednesday general audience and show off their national dress, as pilgrims often do for the pope’s weekly appointment. When it was canceled, they came anyway.
“The Lunar New Year was very recent so we also wanted to bow traditionally and formally in front of him,” said Junhee Christina Kim, a pilgrim from Seoul, South Korea. “It was too good of a chance to pass up, so we came anyway so that we can be in the Vatican in our traditional costumes.”
