Concerns are growing about Pope Francis’ health, after doctors have reportedly determined he is suffering from a polymicrobial respiratory tract infection.
The 88-year-old beloved pontiff, who lost part of his right lung decades ago and has previously had pneumonia, is in the hospital following a bout of bronchitis that doctors worry will turn into pneumonia.
In a story today by Maria Cheng for the Associated Press, Dr. Nick Hopkinson said, “bacteria can come and colonize the airways … and you start to see infections which makes it more difficult to treat.” Dr. Hopkinson is medical director of Asthma + Lung UK
Polymicrobial respiratory tract infection essentially means “there’s a mix of bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites growing in someone’s lungs,” according to Ms. Cheng’s story.
“If they’ve identified particular things to treat, they can treat those and he’ll start to recover,” Dr. Hopkinson said.
The Pope is undergoing antibiotic treatment, which the report says can typically take “from a few days up to about two weeks.”
“Some infections require prolonged treatment because they’re just harder to clear from the system,” Dr. Hopkinson is quoted in Ms. Cheng’s report as saying. “It sounds like they’ve identified the bugs that are responsible and they’ll be able to treat those…but we’ll just have to wait and see.”
The worry, according to the report, is if the Pope develops pneumonia, which is a leading cause of death.
Dr. Maor Sauler, who specializes in adult pulmonary and critical care medicine at Yale University’s School of Medicine, said (according to Ms. Cheng’s report) that “the biggest thing to watch our for in the coming days is any sign that the pope is getting worse.”
“I’d be most interested in making sure he’s not worsening despite the best efforts (of his doctors),” Dr. Sauler said. “I have optimism and hope that he can pull through with the right antibiotic.
Jorge Cardinal Bergoglio of Argentina, was elected and took the name Pope Francis on March 13, 2013 on the fifth ballot of the College of Cardinals following the resignation of the late Pope Benedict XVI. From his first words as the Pope at St. Peter’s Square and throughout his pontificate, he has electrified the world with his pastoral style and humility, his outspoken defense of the poor and of every sinner’s welcome into the church, and his political leadership against war, the mistreatment of migrants, and the failure of the industrialized world to contain emissions that have accelerated climate change, among other issues.
He has been criticized by neoconservatives for his political stances and their accusation that he has changed, upset, or blurred the lines on Catholic dogmatic tradition. Francis often throughout his pontificate has criticized hardliners for choosing to harden their hearts against Christ’s call to see Jesus Christ in every person, and instead employ rigid rules that many times cut the church off from its fundamental evangelical mission.
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Prayer for the Holy Father during his hospitalization.
O God, shepherd and ruler of all the faithful, look favorably on your servant Francis, whom you have set at the head of your Church as her shepherd;
Grant, we pray, that by word and example he may be of service to those over whom he presides so that, together with the flock entrusted to his care, he may come to everlasting life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
