The Vatican informed in a message issued present that Pope Francis would one more time not lead prayer on Sunday. This is the second week in a row erstwhile he has to cancel his individual appearance.
According to the latest update on the state of wellness of the Bishop of Rome, who has been in Gemella infirmary for 9 days due to bilateral pneumonia, “the pope rested well.” On Friday, however, prof. Sergio Alfieri, a associate of the pope's medical team, warned that Francis "is not yet out of danger" and would stay in infirmary for at least another week.
“Pope always wanted us to tell the truth,” said Prof. Alfieri to journalists at the entrance to Gemelli Hospital.
“The chronic illness remains, the pope is aware of it and said, “I realize that the situation is serious,” explained the professor.
He besides added: “Sometimes he catches his breath, and this feeling is not pleasant to anyone.”
As Pope Francis' wellness deteriorates, reflections on his expected resignation become more and more loud.
“All this seems to me unnecessary speculation. Now we are reasoning about the wellness of the Holy Father, his recovery, his return to the Vatican – these are the only things that matter," he said in an interview with Corriere della Sera Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See.
“Thank God, the news coming from Gemella is optimistic, the Pope is recovering. He was given work papers, which means that he is stable," Parolin added.
88-year-old Pope Francis has been struggling with wellness problems for years, and as a young man he underwent surgery to remove the advanced lobe of the right lung. After all, the Vatican assures that Francis remains in a good mood, eats breakfast all day and continues working from his infirmary room.
The past of the Catholic Church knows the cases of popes who renounced their office. The best known example is Benedict XVI, who announced his resignation in 2013, citing a deteriorating wellness condition. It was the first specified case in over 600 years.
Another example is Celestyn V, who himself resigned as pope in 1294, acknowledging that he was incapable to meet the requirements of the office. Pope Gregory XII besides stepped down in 1415 to end the large Western schism.
Although the subject of Pope Francis' resignation appears in media speculation, the Vatican powerfully denies this at this point, focusing on his recovery.
