In a significant development from Rome, Pope Francis has displayed sufficient recovery to engage in vital Vatican affairs. Recently hospitalized with severe pneumonia, the Pope managed to meet with Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, to approve new decrees concerning potential saints and decide on pivotal governance issues. This indicates that despite his critical health condition, Pope Francis is maintaining his papal duties effectively and preparing for future endeavors.
On Monday, the Pope’s audience signaled that the Vatican’s operations continue to function efficiently. The Vatican’s bulletin on Tuesday highlighted important decisions, including Pope Francis meeting cardinal officials for the first time since his hospitalization in February. Key approvals were made for two new saints and five candidates for beatification, marking the initial steps towards sainthood. Additionally, a consistory regarding future canonizations was announced, reflecting a proactive approach despite the Pope’s health challenges.
While decrees from the Vatican’s saint-making office are routinely approved by the Pope, calling a consistory indicates a significant step toward planning future canonizations. Although no date has been set, the announcement recalls Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation announcement in 2013 during a similar consistory. Notably, Pope Francis has expressed a willingness to resign if faced with insurmountable physical challenges, following Benedict’s precedent of resigning from papal duties.
Observers like Giovanna Chirri, a veteran Italian journalist, and Austen Ivereigh, the Pope’s English biographer, acknowledge the possibility of such a decision. However, they emphasize the Pope’s belief that the position is lifelong unless health prevents him from fulfilling his duties entirely. Speculation remains, but the overarching sentiment is that Pope Francis will decide based on the best interest of the Church.
Francis has also contemplated post-resignation life, indicating he would reside in Rome as the “emeritus bishop of Rome” to avoid the complications experienced during Pope Benedict XVI’s retirement. This includes his readiness with a resignation letter if a medical condition prevents him from carrying out his responsibilities.
In more forward-looking news, the Vatican also released the Pope’s message for Lent and announced several key appointments, reinforcing the notion that the Pope is preparing for the future. These include new bishops for Brazil, a new archbishop for Vancouver, and changes in the Vatican City State’s administration. Within these changes, Sister Raffaella Petrini was appointed as the first-ever woman to lead the city-state, showcasing Pope Francis’s commitment to inclusivity and progress.
Besides the Pope’s ongoing responsibilities, reports show that he has maintained communication with significant figures, including Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, and has continued working from his hospital room despite his physical ailments.
The latest Vatican updates reveal encouraging signs regarding the Pope’s health, with reports that he slept well and shows minor improvements in some medical parameters. Although his condition remains severe due to past medical issues compounded by his current pneumonia, hopeful updates and reduced oxygen supplementation suggest slight progress.
Pope Francis’s health has sparked varying reactions, with critics expressing concerns but allies expressing optimism about his recovery. Honduran Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga remains hopeful, reflecting the importance of Pope Francis to the global Catholic community.
Support and prayers for his recovery are flowing in from around the world. Pilgrims and Romans are visiting him, demonstrating their solidarity. Among them is Canadian resident Hoang Phuc Nguyen, expressing shared concern for the Pope’s health through prayer, highlighting global Catholic unity in this trying time.
