Pope Francis has been enduring severe pain and has privately admitted fears about his survival, according to sources close to him. On Sunday, medical professionals at Gemelli hospital forbade the Pope from giving his usual morning Angelus sermon, a rare occurrence as he has seldom missed it even during previous hospitalizations. Currently, the Pope is strictly adhering to the instructions given by his doctors.
Despite initially being reluctant to seek hospital treatment, the Pope was gravely warned that his life was at risk if he chose to remain in his Vatican room, a source revealed.
Over the past month, as his health has declined, Pope Francis has been actively working to complete important initiatives and appoint individuals who share his views to significant positions. This follows a papacy characterized by a progressive approach and strong ideological differences.
Since his ascension to the papacy in 2013, Pope Francis has strived to make the church more inclusive, welcoming women and the LGBT+ community into significant roles. These actions have sparked controversy amongst conservatives, while liberals argue that the changes have not gone far enough. The Pope’s attempts to eradicate widespread child abuse by clergy have seen varied outcomes.
The transition to a new Pope is expected to be a political affair. Before his hospitalization on February 6, Pope Francis extended the term of Italian cardinal Giovanni Battista Re as dean of College of Cardinals. This role oversees preparations for a potential conclave, the confidential meeting that decides the new Pope. This move, bypassing a scheduled vote for the next dean by top cardinals, was designed to ensure the process aligns with Pope Francis’s intentions, according to sources.
Although Re, a veteran Vatican operative, is ineligible to participate in the conclave due to his age, he will play a crucial role in pre-conclave discussions. The fact that Pope Francis chose him as dean over a younger candidate suggests an intention to maintain a friendly presence who would protect his legacy, one of the sources explained.
