When will the Gemelli Hospital in Rome leave? What state? Can you continue your mission? The questions increase as the hospitalization of the Argentine Jesuit 88 years.
“This morning, the Pope continued with physiotherapy and pharmacological treatment“, Reported the Holy Seewhich did not announce any special event on the occasion of the anniversary of the election of the Holy Father of Catholics.
In addition to praying and following at a distance the Spiritual exercises held in the Vatican On the occasion of Lent, too He received drawings sent by children around the worldaccording to this source.
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Although It is no longer criticalhe Bishop of Rome He still needs respiratory assistance through a nasal, day, and a mask, at night.
His forecast ceased to be reserved on March 10and an chest radiography, held on March 11, confirmed the improvements registered in the previous days, according to the latest medical report, published on March 12.
This hospitalization is the fourth and longer since its election on March 13, 2013. According to doctors, two weeks are needed to recover, but without a doubt some more for Francisco, whom with 21 years They removed part of a lung and had other health problems in recent years.
“Unknown”
“He rest of the pontificate is still an unknown At the moment, even for Francisco himself, ”says Father Michel Kuble, former chief of the French Catholic newspaper La Croix.
According to the priest, the first Latin American Pope He doesn’t know how his life is going to be once he returns to the Vatican And it is undoubtedly reserved for the possibility of giving up if you cannot more.
His recent call for a Consistory of Cardinals revived speculation, especially when this was the format chosen by his predecessor Benedict XVI for announce your unexpected resignation. Francisco did not set any date and, in recent times, rejected the idea of leaving the San Pedro Chair, considering that this should not become a fashion.
During his absence, he delegated the masses in senior Vatican, although he maintained some activities such as Sign documents or receive your closest collaborators. Since its hospitalization, it has not appeared in public nor have it published its images, in a period loaded with acts by the jubilee, “Holy Year” during which 30 million pilgrims are expected.
When Holy Week and Easter are approaching, the most important period for Catholics planned this year in mid -April. “It is the end of the pontificate as we have known Until now ”, with his frantic rhythm of audiences, trips abroad and multiple commitments, Michel Kubler sentence.
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Unfinished reforms
The main issue that arises is whether the reforms undertaken in the last twelve years will continue by the Pope from the “end of the world.” With his commitment to closeness, the Argentine pontiff has not only marked a change of style in the Vatican. Its reforms have also deeply modified the life of the Church.
Putting finance, giving a place to the laity and women, decentralizing, opening the doors to divorced married and fighting pedophilia are some of their decisions.
This policy earned him a fierce internal opposition, which was accentuated in recent years.
“We like it or not, it changed things, but many are still pending,” recalls a Vatican source, who asks for anonymity.
His last project, the synod on the future of the Church, changed the rules of the game. For the first time, the Pope invited this great world meeting of bishops to lay and women. The question of the ordination of women as diaconisas was suspended and the most sensitive issues were entrusted to 10 working groups, which must deliver their conclusions in June.