PEACEFUL NIGHT IN HOSPITAL FOR POPE; MEDICAL STAFF OPTIMISTIC

Thu 30 March 2023:

After being admitted to the hospital the previous day, Pope Francis had a peaceful night and the medical staff is optimistic about his recovery, according to a report by the Italian news agency ANSA on Thursday.

According to the Vatican, the 86-year-old pontiff was taken to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Wednesday and was given a diagnosis of a respiratory infection that needed “a few days” of treatment.

Nursing staff “are very optimistic” that, barring surprises, Francis could be discharged in time for Palm Sunday celebrations on April 2, ANSA reported, quoting unnamed hospital sources.

Palm Sunday marks the start of a hectic week of ceremonies leading to Easter Sunday on April 9, the holiest day in the Christian calendar, marking the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Francis has undergone colon surgery and started using a wheelchair or a walking stick due to chronic knee pain in the past two years, during which time his health has come under increased scrutiny.

The latest hospitalization of the Argentine pope has reignited rumors that he may step down on medical grounds, following the historic precedent set by his late predecessor Benedict XVI.

In an interview with Italian Swiss television RSI on March 12, Francis was asked what condition would cause him to quit, and he replied, “A tiredness that doesn’t let you see things clearly. A lack of clarity, of knowing how to evaluate situations”.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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