Pope Francis was not yet cured but was not “in life-threatening danger,” his doctors said in their first press conference late Friday evening, February 21 (Manila time).
Whew! Like many Catholics, I felt relieved as I entered the weekend: Yes, the Pope will make it.
So, I was distraught when I woke up on Sunday morning, February 23, and learned that the Pope was in critical condition. It was the first time the Vatican used the word “critical.”
The Pope, according to the Vatican, battled a “prolonged asthma-like respiratory crisis” that required supplemental “high-flow oxygen.” He also needed blood transfusions due to a low platelet count.
“The Holy Father remains alert and has spent the day in a chair, though he is suffering more than yesterday,” the Vatican said.
A Pope in pain… too painful to imagine.
Hello, I’m Paterno Esmaquel II, senior multimedia reporter covering religion for Rappler.
This is Pope Watch, our special newsletter on the Pope’s health as he remains confined in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. (If you missed our first edition last February 20, you can read it here.)
The situation, as we saw this weekend, is so fragile that things can take a 180-degree turn in hours. This requires us, journalists, to stay on high alert and always keep our notifications on.
Given the seven-hour time difference between Manila and Rome, we’ve also had to stay up later than usual, as I did last night: I waited till around 2:30 am (Manila time) on Monday, February 24, to get the latest Vatican bulletin, which said the pontiff was still in critical condition.
He did not have another respiratory crisis last Sunday, but had a “mild renal insufficiency.”
Here’s a Rappler timeline on the Pope’s hospital confinement.
The silver lining is that the Pope’s current health crisis — the worst in his nearly 12-year pontificate — has prompted many parts of our divided world to unite in collective hope.
Outside Gemelli Hospital, priests, nuns, and laypersons continuously gather to pray for the ailing pontiff. Watch this YouTube video, one of our most-watched videos this weekend.
In the Philippines, Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David of the Diocese of Kalookan presided over a healing Mass, Cardinal Jose Advincula of the Archdiocese of Manila led a Holy Hour, and many other Catholics posted messages for the Pope on social media and in the faith chat room of the Rappler Communities app.
A number of Pope Watch readers last week emailed me the following responses, which I am sharing with you now with their consent:
ALMA REYES: “My family’s daily prayer (Divine Mercy and Holy Rosary) include our intentions for the good health of Pope Francis. After learning of his health condition, we also have been praying for his healing and speedy recovery.”
BART REYES: “Prayers offered for the Holy Father Pope Francis’ well-being.”
VERGEL SANTOS: “Thanks for this — from a seeker who has not only followed Francis’s papacy, but has tried to familiarize himself with his life, and become gratified, edified, and indeed wishful that God preserve him. Thanks again.”
We got other touching messages in Rappler’s faith chat room:
PETER: “Papa Francisco, you still have work to do to help save the world! Do get well soon!”
AE: “Praying for you, Pope Francis! I am sincerely hoping that you heal and recover fast. You gave me hope when I was hopeless back then. Hoping our prayers could uplift and comfort you!”
JP: “Get well soon, our ‘Lolo Kiko.’ Rest assured of my prayers for your speedy recovery. Our dearest Pope, you have touched many lives of people across the globe and one of those is mine. We always love you and we still need you in these trying times.”
Do you have your own messages for the Pope? Let us know by replying to this newsletter or, better yet, by posting them in the faith chat room of the Rappler Communities app.
In the meantime, here’s the Pope’s message for well-wishers like you and me — a note from Gemelli Hospital, published by the Vatican on Sunday.
The Pope writes, “I am confidently continuing my hospitalization at the Gemelli Hospital, carrying on with the necessary treatment; and rest is also part of the therapy!”
“In recent days,” he adds, “I have received many messages of affection, and I have been particularly struck by the letters and drawings from children. Thank you for this closeness, and for the prayers of comfort I have received from all over the world! I entrust you all to the intercession of Mary, and I ask you to pray for me.”
Let’s keep hoping for the best. – Rappler.com