THE Pope has warned aides he may not survive the illness he is battling in hospital and is preparing his legacy, according to reports.
Pope Francis, 88, was rushed to hospital last Friday, where he has now been diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs.
SplashPope Francis has been in hospital since Friday[/caption]
AFPHe has told close aides he fears he will not survive his current bout of illness[/caption]
Despite an update from the Vatican on Monday that his condition was stable, the Pope now fears he will die from his pneumonia, and is rushing to tie up loose ends ahead of his successor.
The Pontiff has been a patient at Rome’s Gemelli hospital since February 14, when he was rushed in after suffering with bronchitis for a week.
Vatican officials released an update on his condition on Monday, explaining a longer hospital stay was needed in the face of a “complex clinical picture” involving a “polymicrobial infection of the respiratory tract”.
They also gave hope to Catholics around the world by revealing his condition was “stable” and he did not have a fever.
But all of the Pope’s engagements have been cancelled and now it seems the Pope himself is not optimistic.
Two people close to the Catholic leader claimed Francis told them that he “might not make it this time”, according to a report by Politico.
They reportedly said the Pope is suffering with intense pain, and was distressed after being barred from delivering his regular morning Angelus sermon, which he has rarely missed – even when hopsitalised.
A statement issued by the Vatican yesterday read: “The chest CT scan that the Holy Father underwent this afternoon … demonstrated the onset of bilateral pneumonia that required further pharmacological therapy.”
The added that Francis’ respiratory infection also involved asthmatic bronchitis, which required the use of an extensive antibiotic treatment.
The Pope had part of his lung removed years ago, meaning he is particularly vulnerable to pulmonary conditions.
Expert Italian pulmonologist Barbara Moscatelli told the National Catholic Reporter that the condition is “neither easy to define or to manage”.
However, even yesterday the Pope was said to be in good spirits and grateful for all the prayers for his speedy recovery.
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