Pope's Chief Medical Officer: "Life-or-Death Crisis on the Night of February 28... Moved When Waving to the Faithful"

Pope Faced Critical Moment on February 28 Due to Pneumonia
Medical Team Leader: "We Were at a Crossroads on Whether to Continue Treatment"
"Chose Not to Give Up... Two Months of Rest Needed"

Pope Francis was reportedly at the brink of life and death on the 28th of last month, a fact that has come to light belatedly. Yonhap News quoted the Italian media outlet 'Corriere della Sera' on the 25th (local time), reporting that "Sergio Alfieri, head of the Pope's medical team and chief surgeon at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, said the night of February 28 was the most difficult."

Pope Francis is waving his hand from the balcony of Rome's Gemelli Hospital before being discharged after a five-week hospitalization due to pneumonia on the 23rd (local time). Photo by AFP Yonhap News

The Pope, who had been hospitalized at Gemelli Hospital since the 14th of last month receiving treatment for pneumonia in both lungs, reportedly experienced a rapid deterioration in his condition on the afternoon of the 28th, his second week of hospitalization. At that time, the Pope suffered two episodes of acute respiratory failure accompanied by bronchial spasms and vomiting. Regarding this, Chief Alfieri said, "It was truly desperate," and added, "We thought we would not be able to save him." He continued, "The Pope knew he might die. It was the first time I saw the people around him shed tears," and "Everyone was aware that they might not make it through that night."

At that time, the medical team faced a crossroads in deciding whether to continue treatment. Chief Alfieri stated, "We had to choose whether to stop treatment here and let him pass peacefully, or to use all medications and treatments available, taking the maximum risk to continue treatment," and revealed, "In the end, we chose the latter." It is also known that Massimiliano Strappetti, the Pope’s aide who was entrusted with health care decisions, said, "Let's try everything. Do not give up."

Chief Alfieri explained, "For several days, we continued treatment while risking damage to the Pope’s kidneys and bone marrow," and "His body responded to the medication, and the lung infection subsided." He expressed his feelings about the Pope greeting the faithful dressed in white Sudanese attire on the hospital’s 10th-floor balcony just before discharge, calling it "moving" and said, "That was the moment he returned as the Pope."

Currently 88 years old, the Pope was discharged from Gemelli Hospital on the 23rd after a record 37-day hospitalization and returned to his residence at Santa Marta in the Vatican. However, it is reported that the Pope is experiencing difficulty speaking due to the aftereffects of high-flow oxygen therapy. Cardinal V?ctor Manuel Fern?ndez, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, stated, "The Pope might return by Easter (April 20), but it is difficult to be certain." The medical team has indicated that at least two months of rest and rehabilitation are necessary for a full recovery.