Doctor Warns Pope's Health on 'Golden Scale' As Onset Of Sepsis a Threat To His Pneumonia Battle

Rome: The 88-year-old Pope Francis is battling pneumonia and a complex respiratory infection, with doctors warning that the main threat is the onset of sepsis, a serious blood infection that can complicate pneumonia. 

Despite his condition, the Vatican carried out its Holy Year celebrations without the pope on Saturday, as he remains hospitalized for at least another week.

Doctors said that there was no evidence of any sepsis, and Francis was responding to the various drugs he is taking, the pope’s medical team said in their first in-depth update on the pope’s condition.

Pope's Health on the "Golden Scale" as Doctors Remain Cautious

Pope's personal physician, Dr Luigi Carbone said, “He is not out of danger,” he added, “So like all fragile patients I say they are always on the golden scale: In other words, it takes very little to become unbalanced.”

Pope Francis, who suffers from chronic lung disease, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on February 14 after a weeklong case of bronchitis worsened. Doctors diagnosed him with a complex viral, bacterial, and fungal respiratory tract infection, which later led to pneumonia in both lungs.

Also Read: Pope Isn't Out Of Danger, Medical Team Says

To manage his condition, doctors prescribed "absolute rest" along with a combination of cortisone and antibiotics. Supplemental oxygen is also provided when needed to support his breathing during recovery.

Dr Carbone, along with Pope Francis' personal nurse Massimiliano Strappetti, coordinated his care at the Vatican. He noted that Francis had insisted on staying to fulfill his institutional and personal commitments, even while unwell. Before being hospitalized, he was attended to by a cardiologist and an infectious disease specialist, in addition to his personal medical team.

Special Jubilee Weekend Without Pope

In his absence, the Holy Year organizer will lead Sunday’s Mass, as confirmed by the Vatican. For the second consecutive weekend, Francis will also miss his traditional Sunday noon blessing, which he could have delivered from Gemelli if he had been well enough.

Deacons were gathering at the Vatican for their special Jubilee weekend, coinciding with the start of the Vatican’s Holy Year, a once-in-a-quarter-century celebration of Catholicism. Pope Francis was originally scheduled to celebrate the deacon ministry, which is a step before ordination to the priesthood.

Luis Arnaldo Lopez Quirindongo, a deacon from Ponce, Puerto Rico who was at the Vatican on Saturday for the Jubilee celebration said, “Look, even though he's not (physically) here, we know he's here,”

“He's recovering, but he's in our hearts and is accompanying us because our prayers and his go together.” Arnaldo added.

(with AP inputs)