Pope funeral 'is being rehearsed': Swiss Guard 'prepare for pontiff's death after the 88-year-old warned 'I may not survive' pneumonia
The Pope's funeral is allegedly being rehearsed after the 88-year-old warned he may not survive pneumonia.
The Swiss Guard protecting the Pope, 88, is rehearsing his funeral, with members under a curfew as they are 'preparing for the pontiff's death', Swiss newspaper Blick claims.
The Pope previously revealed he had 'already prepared' his tomb, but the location of his grave and the coffin itself would break with tradition.
This comes after Pope Francis was rushed to Rome's Gemelli hospital on Friday with significant chest pain, having resisted calls to leave the Vatican for days.
Doctors diagnosed him with a 'complex' respiratory infection and barred him from taking part in several engagements, with the Vatican cancelling or rescheduling his papal audiences this week.
The Vatican on Tuesday confirmed the pneumonia and said Francis' respiratory infection also involves asthmatic bronchitis, which requires the use of cortisone antibiotic treatment.
'Laboratory tests, chest X-ray, and the Holy Father's clinical condition continue to present a complex picture,' the Vatican said. The infection is of particular concern because the Pope had part of his lung removed many years ago.
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DM: Swiss Guard 'prepare for pontiff's death after the 88-year-old warned 'I may not survive' pneumonia
Vatican says Pope Francis is in critical condition
Pope Francis was in critical condition Saturday after he suffered a prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis while being treated for pneumonia and a complex lung infection, the Vatican said.
The 88-year-old pope, who remains conscious, received “high flows” of oxygen to help him breathe. He also received blood transfusions after tests showed low counts of platelets, which are needed for clotting, the Vatican said in a late update.
“The Holy Father’s condition continues to be critical, therefore, as explained yesterday (Friday), the pope is not out of danger,” the statement said. It was the first time “critical” had been used in a written statement to describe Francis' condition since he was hospitalized Feb. 14.
The statement also said that the pontiff “continues to be alert and spent the day in an armchair although in more pain than yesterday." Doctors declined to offer a prognosis, saying it was “reserved.”
Doctors have said Francis' condition is touch-and-go, given his age, fragility and pre-existing lung disease.
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Pope Francis was in critical condition Saturday after he suffered a prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis while being treated for pneumonia and a complex lung infection, the Vatican said.
The 88-year-old pope, who remains conscious, received “high flows” of oxygen to help him breathe. He also received blood transfusions after tests showed low counts of platelets, which are needed for clotting, the Vatican said in a late update.
“The Holy Father’s condition continues to be critical, therefore, as explained yesterday (Friday), the pope is not out of danger,” the statement said. It was the first time “critical” had been used in a written statement to describe Francis' condition since he was hospitalized Feb. 14.
The statement also said that the pontiff “continues to be alert and spent the day in an armchair although in more pain than yesterday." Doctors declined to offer a prognosis, saying it was “reserved.”
Doctors have said Francis' condition is touch-and-go, given his age, fragility and pre-existing lung disease.
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Vatican shares new health update on Pope Francis as he battles complex lung infection
Pope Francis remained in critical condition Monday but showed slight improvement in laboratory tests and resumed some work, the Vatican said, including calling a parish in Gaza City that he has kept in touch with since the war there began.
The Vatican’s evening bulletin was more upbeat than in recent days, as the 88-year-old Francis battles pneumonia in both lungs at Rome's Gemelli hospital. It was issued shortly before the Vatican No. 2 led the faithful in a somber night-time recitation of the Rosary prayer in St. Peter's Square that evoked the vigils when St. John Paul II was dying.
“For 2,000 years the Christian people have prayed for the pope when he was in danger or sick," Cardinal Pietro Parolin told the rain-dappled piazza. Standing on the same stage where Francis usually presides, Parolin said ever since Francis had been hospitalized, a chorus of prayers for his recovery had swelled up from around the world.
“Starting this evening, we want to unite ourselves publicly to this prayer here, in his house,” Parolin said, praying that Francis “in this moment of illness and trial" would recover quickly.
The Argentine pope, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, has been hospitalized since Feb. 14 and doctors have said his condition is touch-and-go, given his age, fragility and pre-existing lung disease.
But in Monday's update, they said he hadn’t had any more respiratory crises since Saturday, and the supplemental oxygen he is using continued but with a slightly reduced oxygen flow and concentrations. The slight kidney insufficiency detected on Sunday was not causing alarm at the moment, doctors said, while saying his prognosis remained guarded.
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Pope Francis remained in critical condition Monday but showed slight improvement in laboratory tests and resumed some work, the Vatican said, including calling a parish in Gaza City that he has kept in touch with since the war there began.
The Vatican’s evening bulletin was more upbeat than in recent days, as the 88-year-old Francis battles pneumonia in both lungs at Rome's Gemelli hospital. It was issued shortly before the Vatican No. 2 led the faithful in a somber night-time recitation of the Rosary prayer in St. Peter's Square that evoked the vigils when St. John Paul II was dying.
“For 2,000 years the Christian people have prayed for the pope when he was in danger or sick," Cardinal Pietro Parolin told the rain-dappled piazza. Standing on the same stage where Francis usually presides, Parolin said ever since Francis had been hospitalized, a chorus of prayers for his recovery had swelled up from around the world.
“Starting this evening, we want to unite ourselves publicly to this prayer here, in his house,” Parolin said, praying that Francis “in this moment of illness and trial" would recover quickly.
The Argentine pope, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, has been hospitalized since Feb. 14 and doctors have said his condition is touch-and-go, given his age, fragility and pre-existing lung disease.
But in Monday's update, they said he hadn’t had any more respiratory crises since Saturday, and the supplemental oxygen he is using continued but with a slightly reduced oxygen flow and concentrations. The slight kidney insufficiency detected on Sunday was not causing alarm at the moment, doctors said, while saying his prognosis remained guarded.
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Pope's condition stable, mechanical ventilation discontinued
On Sunday evening, the Holy See Press Office released the following update on Pope Francis' health:
Pope Francis has been hospitalised with breathing difficulties since the 14th February.
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On Sunday evening, the Holy See Press Office released the following update on Pope Francis' health:
No direct consequences from last Friday's isolated bronchospasm are evident. However, the risk of a deterioration in the Pope's condition remains.Today, too, the Holy Father's clinical condition has remained stable. The Pope has not required non-invasive mechanical ventilation, but only supplemental high-flow oxygenation. He does not have a fever.
Given the complexity of the clinical picture, the prognosis remains guarded.
Pope Francis has been hospitalised with breathing difficulties since the 14th February.
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Pope suffers 2 episodes of respiratory failure, Vatican says
Pope Francis suffered two episodes of "acute respiratory failure" on Monday, the Vatican said.
The episodes were caused by a "significant accumulation of endobronchial mucus and consequent bronchospasm," the Vatican's press office said in a brief statement.
Two bronchoscopies were performed on the pontiff, with "the need to aspirate abundant secretions." Non-invasive mechanical ventilation was resumed on Francis and he continues to be "alert, oriented and cooperative," the Vatican said.
His prognosis "remains reserved," the Vatican said.
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Pope Francis suffered two episodes of "acute respiratory failure" on Monday, the Vatican said.
The episodes were caused by a "significant accumulation of endobronchial mucus and consequent bronchospasm," the Vatican's press office said in a brief statement.
Two bronchoscopies were performed on the pontiff, with "the need to aspirate abundant secretions." Non-invasive mechanical ventilation was resumed on Francis and he continues to be "alert, oriented and cooperative," the Vatican said.
His prognosis "remains reserved," the Vatican said.
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Doctors declare Pope Francis no longer in imminent danger due to pneumonia, but remains hospitalized
Doctors said Monday Pope Francis is no longer in imminent danger of death as a result of pneumonia that has kept him hospitalized for nearly a month, but have decided to keep him hospitalized for several more days to receive treatment.
In a late update, the doctors said the 88-year-old pope remains stable and has consolidated improvements in recent days, as determined by blood tests and positive responses to drug treatments.
The Vatican said the doctors had lifted their previous "guarded" prognosis, meaning they determined he was no longer in imminent danger as a result of the original respiratory infection he arrived with on Feb. 14. But their caution remained.
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Doctors said Monday Pope Francis is no longer in imminent danger of death as a result of pneumonia that has kept him hospitalized for nearly a month, but have decided to keep him hospitalized for several more days to receive treatment.
In a late update, the doctors said the 88-year-old pope remains stable and has consolidated improvements in recent days, as determined by blood tests and positive responses to drug treatments.
The Vatican said the doctors had lifted their previous "guarded" prognosis, meaning they determined he was no longer in imminent danger as a result of the original respiratory infection he arrived with on Feb. 14. But their caution remained.
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