Pope Francis has privately told his aides that he may not survive his current battle with pneumonia and is making preparations for his legacy, including considerations for his successor.
The 88-year-old pontiff was rushed to hospital last Friday, where he was diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs. Double pneumonia is a severe infection that inflames and scars both lungs, making breathing increasingly difficult.
Despite an update from the Vatican on Monday stating that his condition was stable, Pope Francis now fears he may not recover from the illness.
On early Wednesday morning, the Vatican reported that the Pope had a peaceful night and slept well. “He had a tranquil night, woke up and had breakfast," the statement said.
The Pope is also dealing with asthmatic bronchitis alongside pneumonia, requiring cortisone and antibiotics for treatment. Doctors have confirmed that his respiratory infection is caused by a mix of viruses, bacteria, and potentially other organisms, complicating his recovery.
Bronchitis can lead to pneumonia, a more severe infection of the lungs’ air sacs. Pneumonia can affect part of a lung, an entire lung, or both lungs. When both lungs are involved, the condition becomes more serious as there is less healthy lung tissue to compensate.
The Vatican has revealed that Pope Francis, who had part of his right lung removed in his youth, has been undergoing a series of tests, including chest X-rays and laboratory evaluations.
The pontiff’s hospitalisation follows a week-long battle with bronchitis, which worsened, leading to his admission to Rome’s Gemelli hospital. Although he was initially admitted in a “fair" condition, the latest medical scans confirmed the onset of bilateral pneumonia, requiring more intensive treatment.
