Pope has to stay in the hospital longer

Vatican

Pope has to stay in the hospital longer

Francis has been treated in a clinic in Rome since Friday – so far because of bronchitis. Now there is talk of a “complex clinical picture”. The stay could take.

Pope Francis has to stay in the hospital longer. After a new diagnosis of the treating doctors in Rome, the 88-year-old suffers from a “polymi-robic infection of the respiratory tract”, as the Vatican announced. Therefore the treatment was changed. It also said: “All examinations carried out to date indicate a complex clinical picture that requires a corresponding hospital stay.” Shortly afterwards, Francis was canceled “appointments for the rest of the week.

The head of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide has been hospitalized in the Gemelli Hospital in the west of Rome since Friday. So far it had been said that Francis suffered from a respiratory tract disease, bronchitis. At the same time, his environment always assured that there was “no reason to worry”. Now there was a more precise diagnosis.

A polymic -robic infection of the respiratory tract means that different pathogens have established themselves in the nose, throat or lungs that are difficult to treat. In addition to bacteria, this can also be viruses, fungi and parasites. If acute bronchitis lasts longer, a change of illness often occurs because an infection is added by bacteria. This is called “super infection”.

The specialist in lung and bronchial medicine, Jens Becker, said to the diagnosis spread by the Vatican: “This is a vague term. This can be everything from superficial bronchitis to a severe lung infection.” Nothing can be said about the severity, said the doctor from Lübeck. For example, bronchitis is possible, which has complicated with other germs. In any case, the Pope “was caught by several germs”.

In the beginning it had said from Francis “the area that the stay in the hospital could take until the middle of this week. But at the moment there is nothing to indicate a soon -to -be. The native of Argentine is more difficult for him to have part of the right lungs since an operation at a young age.

The spokesman for the Vatican, Matteo Bruni, reported after the publication of the new diagnosis: “The Pope is in a good mood.” According to Bruni, Francis spent a quiet night again. In the Gemelli Clinic, the head of the church is located in a wing on the tenth floor that is reserved for the Pope. It has been the fourth time for Francis since 2021. In the past, Polish Pope John Paul II (1920-2005) had been treated there several times.

At the age of 88, Jorge Mario Bergoglio – the bourgeois name – is now the second oldest Pope in history. As the successor to Benedict XVI. He has been in office since March 2013. It has been seen for a long time that health is becoming increasingly difficult for him. His voice broke away several times on public appointments. He hardly left his place of residence in the Vatican. In the meantime, he also sits in a wheelchair for practically all appointments.

The Holy Chair is visibly trying not to make worries – which is why Bullettin’s caution is now required. In previous messages, for example, it was said that some values ​​had improved, the findings were “inconspicuous”. However, in an earlier winter there was always only talk of bronchitis. Later, Francis said that he had severe pneumonia.

With increasing age, the Pontifex makes the airways difficult to create in the winter months. Now the problems have dragged on before Christmas. To prevent the spread of infections, Francis is treated with cortisone – which the immune system could weaken at such an old age. The doctors had also recommended him to go to the hospital for a long time.

Despite the stay in the clinic, the company continues in the Vatican. The Holy Chair also announced that Francis appointed new bishops.