Pope Francis has been hospitalized with pneumonia and bronchitis and is in critical condition due to kidney problems.
There is an atmosphere of anxiety and fear in Rome today as another night passes and Pope Francis remains in critical condition.
The rain-soaked streets are still crowded with tourists, but there is a different mood in St Peter's Square. The last brief update from the Vatican this morning said: “The night was calm. The Pope has had a good rest and is now resting.”
A Vatican update on Sunday said the pope was in critical condition, with an “initial, mild” kidney problem. The international media presence around St. Peter's Basilica is growing, an ominous sign for locals at a time of uncertainty.
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Alfredo Chiarelli, 70, has been selling rose beads outside the cathedral for 45 years. His cheerful sales pitch changes when he turns to us: “I love the Pope, I’m very worried – we all are. It’s a strange feeling that doesn’t go away when we know he’s so ill. There’s so much media right now that it feels like he’s already gone. But we have to hope and pray.”
For Germans Christian Henk, 56, and his daughter Alexandra, 31, it’s an unusual time to be a tourist in Rome. “We just don’t know what’s going to happen,” Alexandra said. “We’re constantly following the news. But the reports seem vague. We don’t know whether things will open or not, and of course people here are very worried about that.”
A statement on Sunday evening said Pope Francis was “alert and well-oriented” and had attended Mass at the hospital with those caring for him, but the prognosis was “guarded” due to the complexity of his condition. The 88-year-old pope has been in Rome's Gemelli hospital since February 14, being treated for double pneumonia and chronic bronchitis.
He has a history of respiratory problems, having lost part of one of his lungs to pleurisy in his youth. He also had an acute case of pneumonia in 2023. Today marks the 10th day Francis has spent in Gemelli, the longest hospital stay of his papacy.
He spent the same number of days in 2021 after having 33cm (13in) of his colon removed. Messages from the Vatican still don't provide the clarity this famous city is seeking, and while tourists continue to arrive, the message from locals is simple: Pray for the Pope.
Sourse: www.mirror.co.uk
