https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/03/europe/pope-francis-respiratory-failure-intl/index.html

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Pope Francis experienced “two episodes of acute respiratory failure,” the Vatican said Monday, marking the latest in a series of medical crises the 88-year-old pontiff has endured since he was first hospitalized last month.

Monday’s episodes were caused by “significant accuмulation of endobronchial mucus” and a consequent narrowing of the airways, the Vatican said.

Earlier in the day, the pope underwent two bronchoscopies and doctors removed a buildup of secretions.

In the afternoon, Francis was given an oxygen mask to help with his breathing, according to the Vatican.

Throughout, the pontiff remained alert and cooperative, the Vatican said.

“It was a complicated afternoon,” Vatican sources said, adding that the acute respiratory crisis, which lasted for part of the afternoon, is now over, and that the pope is now resting.

“The accuмulation of the mucus is a result of the pneumonia and that causes coughing and spasm as the bronchi try to expel the mucus as it irritates them,” the sources said.

The sources added that Francis’ blood tests remain the same and his prognosis remains “reserved.”

Pope Francis greets faithful during his weekly general audience at St. Peter's Square in Vatican City, Vatican, on September 13, 2023.
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In a previous update on Monday morning, Vatican said the pope “rested well” throughout the night and sources said he was receiving high flows of oxygen through nose cannulas.

Pope Francis has been hospitalized at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital since mid-February, where he has been battling double pneumonia. On Friday, he had a sudden respiratory episode, which required him to receive an oxygen mask. His current hospitalization is his fourth - and now longest - stay since he became pope in 2013.

The Vatican has been releasing twice daily updates on the pope’s health.

The pontiff has suffered from lung-related issues for much of his life. As a young man, he suffered from severe pneumonia and had part of one lung removed.

On Sunday, Vatican sources said the “picture is still complex” and that the “risk of crisis” remains.

Francis’ cousin Carla Rabezzana told CNN Monday that the family is worried about him.

Rabezzana said the family has not been in touch with Francis but receives updates through the news. The last phone call the family had with the pope was on Christmas, she said.

Francis’ schedule has been cleared to accommodate his intensive medical treatment. He did not lead the Angelus prayer on Sunday, for the third week in a row.

He also will not lead the Ash Wednesday service, which marks the start of Lent, a 40-day period of prayer, repentance and fasting for many Christians, for only the second time in his papacy, according to the Vatican. A cardinal is expected to lead the service instead.

The conflicting reports of Bergoglio’s condition when he may be dead already reminds me of an old story out of Ireland:
Callahan loved his cat. One day he told his brother Mike: “I’m up to Dublin for a few days on business and I want you to take care the cat for me while I’m gone.”
“I will”
Three days go by and he phoned home and he says to Mike “How is the cat?”
Mike said, “The cat is dead.”
“My goodness! Did ya have to tell me like that?
Mike said, “What other way could I tell you the cat is dead?”
“You could have said anything. You coulda said the cat is up on the roof and the fire brigade is trying to get it down. The next time I phoned you could have said they got the cat and were taking it down, but let it fall and it was badly injured when it hit the ground. The next time when I phoned you could say the doctors tried every way to save the cat, but it was no good and the cat died. That way it wouldn’t have been such a shock to me. By the way, how is mother?”
He said “She’s up on the roof…”
Maybe they’re trying to soften the shock that Bergoglio is dead.

Gotta love Irish humor. At least I do. Maybe it's genetic.

Whoever is leading the communications and public relations for the Vatican: Look, I'm sure it's a daunting task being the press secretary for an entire country.

But the double-speak is getting old.

Bergoglio hasn't appeared to show any signs of panic or contrition preceding and during his hospitalization.

Maybe he wasn't even seriously ill to begin with. Maybe his "serious illness" was trumped-up by Vatican media to garner sympathy for him while he wanted to take a long isolated break from his regular activities. Then, when he wants to get back to continuing his crusade of destruction, they will say his recovery was a "miracle." 

The world loves him. I wonder why.

Do the world love him?  Conservatives can't stand him, and then most Leftists hate the Catholic Church, equating it with child predation ... and so Bergie is just the face of that.

Wojtyla played it well by appealing to the conservatives, but I don't think Jorge has too many fans out there except among the Modernist-heretic "Catholics" themselves.

But after Wojtyla had passed, I made the comment that if the world loves him this much (and they absolutely did ... as most heads of state from all world governments attended his funeral), there must be something wrong with him.

Our Lord Himself told us that the world will hate those who truly are His followers.