On the twelfth anniversary of his election to the papacy, Pope Francis continues to recover in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.
This year, the twelfth anniversary of his pontificate falls at a particular moment for Pope Francis, who has been living in his hospital room on the tenth floor of Gemelli Hospital for almost a month. The news coming from the latest medical bulletins is encouraging, his prognosis is no longer guarded, and hopefully he will be able to return to the Vatican soon. Still, what the Pope is going through at this time undoubtedly makes this anniversary of the beginning of his pontificate very unusual. The same year that has seen Pope Francis’ longest intercontinental journey (to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste, and Singapore); the conclusion of the Synod on Synodality; and the opening of the Holy Door that inaugurated the Jubilee, now witnesses this delicate passage. The Successor of St Peter, sick among the sick, suffers and prays for peace, accompanied by the chorus of prayers of so many people around the world. He, who in these twelve years has never concluded a meeting, a catechesis or an Angelus without the words, “Please do not forget to pray for me”, today feels the embrace of so many believers and non-believers who care deeply for him.
It is revealing: it is a time to consider the nature of the Church and the mission of the Bishop of Rome, which is so different from that of the general manager of a multinational corporation. Twelve years ago, the then Cardinal Bergoglio addressed the General Congregations, quoting Henri De Lubac’s opinion that “the worst evil” the Church can incur is “spiritual worldliness”: The danger of a Church that “believes she has light of its own”, that counts on her own strength, her own strategies, her own efficiency, and thus ceases to be the “mysterium lunae”, that is, no longer reflecting the light of Another, no longer living and acting only by the grace of the One who said: “Without me you can do nothing”.
Remembering those words once again, today, we look with affection and hope at the windows of the tenth floor of Gemelli Hospital. We thank Pope Francis for this magisterium of fragility, for that still feeble voice of his that has joined the Rosary in St Peter’s Square in recent days—a fragile voice that continues to implore peace and not war, dialogue and not oppression, compassion and not indifference. Happy anniversary, Pope Francis! We still need your voice so much.
Pope rests well overnight, follows Spiritual Exercises amid improvement
Pope Francis had a restful night, according to a statement published on Wednesday morning by the Holy See Press Office. The Pope continued following the spiritual exercises of the Roman Curia this morning via video link, as he did the past two days, and is continuing his treatment and respiratory and mobility-related physical therapy.
A medical bulletin giving an update on the Pope’s health will be issued this evening.
On Tuesday night, the Press Office provided an update on Pope Francis’ day, noting he followed the spiritual exercises at the Vatican via video link with the Paul VI Hall, spent time in prayer, in his room but also in the chapel, and received the Eucharist. THe Pope continued the usual high-flow oxygen therapy throughout the day,
Pope Francis’ clinical situation remains stable with doctors confirming slight improvements within a context that nevertheless remains complex.
The Holy Father has been hospitalized at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital since 14 February when he was admitted for a bout of bronchitis.
His prognosis is no longer guarded, but his doctors say he requires more time in the hospital.
A detailed medical bulletin was not issued Tuesday evening, as in previous days, in view of the stable health situation.
Today, there will not be a distribution of the Wednesday General Audience catechesis given that this week the spiritual excercises of the Roman Curia are taking place.
