ROME — Pope Francis is reportedly anxious about his health following a hospitalization for severe bronchitis, prompting him to expedite the resolution of key matters before the inevitable transition of power within the Catholic Church.
The pontiff was admitted to a specialized ward at Gemelli Hospital in Rome earlier this month due to a respiratory infection. As a result, he has been compelled to cancel several public engagements. This incident marks another health crisis for the 88-year-old pope, who underwent partial lung removal in his youth and has shown signs of increasing frailty in recent years. The Holy See’s press office has provided regular updates, revealing that the pope’s bronchitis has escalated into a “polymicrobial infection” with a “complex clinical picture.”
“He may not die now but of course he eventually will,” said one Vatican official. “We all die — and he’s an 88-year-old man with lung problems.”
Sources close to the pope have indicated that he is experiencing significant pain and has privately voiced fears about his survival this time. A notable incident occurred on Sunday when doctors at Gemelli informed him that he could not deliver his customary morning Angelus sermon, a commitment he has rarely missed, even during hospital stays. As a result, he is currently adhering strictly to “doctors’ orders.”
Initially hesitant to seek hospital care, Francis was ultimately advised of the serious risks associated with remaining in his residence at the Vatican. His health has been in decline over the past month, leading him to prioritize the completion of critical initiatives and the appointment of loyal allies to influential positions. These actions come in the wake of a progressive papacy that has garnered both fervent support and backlash due to ideological divides.
Key appointments and the political landscape of papal succession
Since ascending to the papacy in 2013, Francis has endeavored to foster a more inclusive Church by creating opportunities for women and members of the LGBT+ community. While his efforts have sparked outrage among conservative factions, liberal advocates argue that his reforms have fallen short. Additionally, his attempts to combat clerical sexual abuse have yielded mixed outcomes.
On February 6, prior to his hospitalization, Francis extended the term of Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re as dean of the College of Cardinals, a position that plays a significant role in orchestrating the upcoming conclave responsible for selecting his successor. This controversial decision bypassed a scheduled vote among senior cardinals, indicating Francis’s desire to influence the succession process in alignment with his objectives.
Though Re is too elderly to participate in the conclave, he will be instrumental in the behind-the-scenes discussions that precede the voting process. Francis’s choice to appoint him over a younger candidate suggests a strategy to ensure that someone sympathetic to his legacy remains in a position of influence.
Potential implications of Francis’s health on future Church leadership
The forthcoming conclave is expected to be politically charged. Before his health deteriorated, Francis issued a striking critique of U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s interpretation of Ordo Amoris, which relates to love and was invoked to justify President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. This rebuke incited a strong reaction from the White House, heightening concerns over a contentious succession battle in the event of Francis’s death.
Moreover, on Saturday, the pontiff accelerated his reform agenda by appointing Sister Raffaella Petrini as the first female governor of Vatican City, with her term commencing on March 1. This decision, which came sooner than anticipated, has raised alarms among his allies regarding his health, though it coincides with the current governor, Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, reaching the age limit for the role on that date.
Even if Pope Francis overcomes this latest health challenge, many observers believe this moment signifies a pivotal shift toward solidifying his reforms rather than pursuing new initiatives.