Pope Francis, 88, faced a serious health scare on Friday as he suffered a sudden deterioration in his breathing, triggering an emergency response from doctors at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. The Vatican confirmed that the Pope experienced a bout of vomiting along with an alarming respiratory crisis but assured the public that his condition is now stable.
According to Vatican officials, the Pope was given oxygen through a face mask to help regulate his breathing. By Saturday evening, his medical team reported that he had responded well to oxygen therapy and had not suffered another major breathing episode. While they did not offer a long-term prognosis, they emphasized that the Pope remained “alert and well-oriented.”
The Vatican’s latest update detailed that Pope Francis spent much of the day alternating between wearing an oxygen mask and receiving high-flow oxygen. Despite the health setback, he was able to take part in prayer, receive the Eucharist, and continue eating normally. Doctors noted that his circulation and blood flow were stable, with no significant signs of worsening infection.
Earlier on Saturday, Vatican insiders described the Pope’s night as “peaceful” and even mentioned that he had enjoyed a morning coffee—an encouraging sign for a man whose health has been a growing concern for Catholics worldwide. However, medical experts remain cautious, saying they will need 24 to 48 hours to determine if there has been lasting damage to his lungs.
This latest health crisis follows a pattern of fluctuating updates from the Vatican. Just days ago, reports suggested that the Pope’s condition was improving. Then came Friday’s emergency, which the Vatican described as an “isolated crisis of bronchospasm” that caused vomiting and a sudden worsening of his breathing.
For the leader of the Catholic Church, hospitalization has become increasingly frequent. Pope Francis was first admitted on February 14 after struggling with breathing issues for several days. Initially diagnosed with bronchitis, he was later found to have pneumonia in both lungs. Given his medical history—including a partial lung removal as a young man due to pleurisy—any respiratory illness is particularly dangerous for him.
This current hospitalization marks the longest period the Pope has spent out of public sight since taking over from Pope Benedict in 2013. That prolonged absence is making many within the Church uneasy.
Catholics around the world are watching closely, as Italian newspapers capture the growing anxiety. “Another Crisis, Anxiety for the Pope,” read a headline from Il Messaggero, while Il Giornale described the situation with stark urgency: “Vomit and Breathing Crisis—Anxiety for the Pope Returns.”
While concern over the Pope’s condition remains high, attention has also shifted elsewhere. News coverage of the Vatican health updates had been fading in recent days, but with Friday’s dramatic turn of events, the Pope’s health is back in the headlines—though reports of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s tense White House visit have dominated international media.
Born in Argentina, Pope Francis made history as the first Latin American and first Jesuit to lead the Catholic Church. Over his 12-year tenure, he has faced multiple health challenges, including hospitalization for bronchitis in March 2023. Now, as he battles pneumonia once again, Catholics worldwide are left wondering—how much longer can the Pope’s frail health endure?
