Doctor treating Pope Francis says team considered ending treatment
The medical staff caring for Pope Francis considered stopping treatment to let him die, according to Professor Sergio Alfieri, after the 88-year-old pontiff was hospitalized with a prolonged respiratory illness.
Alfieri told the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera that the most critical moment occurred on February 28, when the pope suffered a breathing crisis and inhaled his own vomit.
“We had to choose whether to stop and let him go or force it and try with all the drugs and therapies possible, running the very high risk of damaging other organs. And in the end, we took this path,” Alfieri said.
The decision to continue treatment was made by Francis’ nurse, Massimiliano Strappetti, who reportedly told Alfieri, “Try everything, we won’t give up. That’s what we all thought too. And no one gave up.”
Francis was discharged on March 23 after spending 38 days at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, marking the longest hospitalization of his papacy. Alfieri previously stated that the pope experienced multiple breathing crises, with two episodes putting his life at serious risk.
During his stay, the Vatican provided an unprecedented level of detail about his condition. Alfieri noted that this was at the pope’s request, with medical bulletins prepared by doctors and supplemented by Francis’ personal secretaries. “From the first day, he asked us to tell him the truth and wanted us to be transparent about his condition… nothing was ever changed or omitted,” he said.
Francis has now returned to his residence at Casa Santa Marta, where he will continue receiving treatment, including mobility and respiratory-related physiotherapy, particularly for voice recovery. Doctors have also recommended round-the-clock medical assistance, including oxygen therapy, in case of emergencies.
The pope is expected to gradually resume his duties. Despite missing the Angelus prayer for seven consecutive Sundays, he has continued offering reflections. Most recently, he called for peace in conflict-ridden regions, saying in a post on X, “Let us pray together for peace, especially in martyred Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.”
Credit: CNN
