According to a statement released by the Vatican on Thursday, Pope Francis’ health remains stable, although he is still dealing with lung inflammation and respiratory difficulties. The Pope’s condition has required him to postpone his visit to the United Arab Emirates for the COP28 climate summit in Dubai. Despite this setback, the Vatican assures that Pope Francis is not showing signs of a fever.
During his visit to Portugal for the XXXVII World Youth Day in August 2023, Pope Francis had the opportunity to meet with university students from the Pontifical Catholic University. This event provided a chance for the Pope to inspire and connect with young people, sharing his message of faith and hope.
Pope Francis’ struggle with lung issues is not new. In fact, back in 2013, the Vatican announced that the Pope had a portion of his lung removed due to a respiratory illness he had experienced in his youth. At the age of 21, the future Pope Francis faced a grave illness, spending three days fighting for his life. He battled high fevers and questioned his own mortality. Doctors were puzzled and unsure of the cause, leaving him and his loved ones in a state of fear and confusion. Eventually, the diagnosis revealed severe pneumonia and the presence of three cysts in his lungs. Treatment was administered, and ultimately Pope Francis underwent surgery to remove the upper portion of his right lung, which helped alleviate the symptoms and control the disease.
However, despite his previous lung surgery, Pope Francis has had to deal with recent health challenges. Most notably, he spent three days at the Policlínica Gemelli in Rome, Italy, in March 2023 to receive treatment for acute pneumonia. Thankfully, he made a full recovery from this particular illness.
As part of ongoing measures to ensure his well-being, Pope Francis now has a personal health assistant, a nurse, who attends to his needs and constantly monitors his condition. The Pope has been utilizing a cane since May of last year due to pain in his right knee. This knee pain is a result of chronic musculoskeletal issues that have plagued him for some time. In 2021, he underwent coronary surgery, which resulted in some complications, leading him to forgo knee surgery. These health challenges have occasionally forced him to skip certain official ceremonies, a sacrifice he makes in order to prioritize his health.
In a recent interview with Argentine doctor and journalist Nelson Castro, Pope Francis revealed additional health struggles he has faced. While in Argentina, he sought relief from coastal pain through Chinese acupuncture. He has also dealt with gallbladder calculi and experienced a temporary cardiac problem in 2004 due to mild arterial stenosis. Despite these health issues, the Pope remains resilient and committed to his role as the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church.
It is evident that Pope Francis has faced numerous health challenges throughout his life, but his strength and determination have allowed him to continue fulfilling his duties and spreading his message of compassion and mercy to people worldwide. The Vatican, along with the millions of believers who admire and support the Pope, will continue to pray for his health and well-being as he carries out his important role in the Catholic Church.
