Pope Francis has been admitted to the hospital. Rome's Gemelli Hospital since Feb. 14, where medical professionals have been giving him treatment for bilateral pneumonia .
Pneumonia should not be taken lightly, particularly given the Pope's advanced age of 88, and considering that Pope Francis had to deal with this condition. One of his lungs was taken out. When he was younger, because of a serious respiratory infection, he now has just one working lung.
Given that the Pope has been hospitalized for over a month now, some people have started speculating that he might follow in the footsteps of Pope Benedict XVI from 2013 and resign prematurely. tradition for the Pope to remain in office until his death, and Benedict XVI, who died in 2022 was the first to resign before his passing since Gregory XII in 1415.
Is Pope Francis considering resigning due to his continuing health problems?
For supporters hoping he will remain, positive developments emerged on Saturday, March 15, as Pope Francis endorsed a fresh, three-year initiative aimed at exploring potential changes for the worldwide Catholic Church, according to statements from the Vatican, suggesting that Francis intends to continue in his role.
By endorsing an accompanying process that will conclude with an Ecclesial Assembly in 2028, Pope Francis formally launches a fresh stage in the Church’s synodal path, Vatican News said on Saturday.
Francis has built upon the efforts of the Synod of Bishops, initiating an extensive consultation process over the coming three years involving Catholics globally. Additionally, he plans to host a fresh Ecumenical Assembly at the Vatican in 2028.
This announcement follows a generally favorable week for Pope Francis' well-being, during which medical statements indicated that while his condition continues to be "complicated," he is no longer facing an immediate threat to his life, as reported by the Vatican.
According to the Vatican's Holy See Press Office Due to the Pope's stable condition, health updates will not be released as frequently, and the Holy See’s routine early-morning statement regarding Pope Francis’ sleep from the previous night will cease. Additionally, they mentioned that although the Pope is recuperating and no longer faces immediate peril, additional time is required to ensure his progress remains consistent.
A portion of the Pope's time at the hospital is attributable to during the Lenten season , a 40-day "period of prayer, fasting, and charitable giving that starts on Ash Wednesday and concludes at sundown on Holy Thursday." This year, Lent began on Wednesday, March 5, and will end on Easter Sunday, April 20.
