Vatican City, 20 February, 2025 / 7:30 pm (ACI Africa).
While acknowledging that concern about Pope Francis’ health is understandable, Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, called the narrative that fuels speculation about the seriousness of his condition and the pre-conclave atmosphere “morbid.”
Speaking with ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, the bishop emeritus of the Diocese of Terni-Narni-Amelia in Italy said it is “right to be concerned” about the health of the Holy Father, who at 88 is suffering from bilateral pneumonia and has been hospitalized in the Gemelli Hospital in Rome since Feb. 14.
However, he pointed out that this concern “must be kept within limits,” and he regretted that a lot of speculation about his health has created a “morbid atmosphere.”
“The situation is certainly delicate and the pope has kept on working, unfortunately, from a certain point of view,” the prelate said before emphasizing that the pontiff “is recovering and will return to the Vatican in a few weeks.”
On Wednesday evening, the Vatican reported a “slight improvement” in Pope Francis’ health. Although he is suffering from “a complex clinical picture” and his conditions “are stationary,” blood tests show a slight improvement, especially in inflammatory indices.
