Pope Francis spent a quiet night, "as smooth as oil", according to what ANSA learns from sources close to him, on the tenth floor of the Gemelli Polyclinic, where the Pontiff has been hospitalized since yesterday in the special apartment of the Popes for a "respiratory infection
"
.
"The nurses are very optimistic, they believe that there will be celebrations for next Palm Sunday. Barring unforeseen events of course", they still report.
In fact, from the very first moments, Massimiliano Strapppetti, 54, was with the Pontiff, a nurse so close and listened to by Bergoglio that it was he who convinced him to undergo colon surgery three years ago.
Today, however, a day of complete hospitalization is completely taken for granted.
The Pontiff will continue his treatment for a respiratory infection and the tests will continue which, according to what has been learned, exclude heart problems and pneumonia.
Sources from the Holy See confirmed this morning that Pope Francis "had a good night".
An update on his condition should be released in the late morning
.
Hospitalization The sudden hospitalization of
Pope Francis at the Gemelli Polyclinic
, where he arrived yesterday in an ambulance for "a respiratory infection",
was a classic bolt from the blue for everyone .
"In recent days, Pope Francis has complained of some breathing difficulties and this afternoon he went to the A. Gemelli Polyclinic to carry out some medical checks", announced the director of the Vatican press office, Matteo Bruni in the evening.
"The outcome of the same
highlighted a respiratory infection
(excluding the Covid 19 infection) which will require a few days of appropriate hospital medical therapy".
"
ANSA Agency
On the tenth floor of the Gemelli, the Pope's apartment - Chronicle
All white, simple, there is a chapel.
He also hosted Wojtyla (ANSA)
The Pontiff had been seen
very serene at the general audience
in the morning - apart from the well-known walking difficulties due to knee pain -, making the tour with the 'popemobile' together with the now customary five children on board, animatedly giving his catechesis , at the end joking and smiling in the 'hand kiss' and in the group photo with the bishops.
Only he appeared tired when he was lifted from the wheelchair to get on the popemobile that took him to Santa Marta, where he allegedly suffered the illness that led to his hospitalization.
Then only a few hours later, completely unexpected, the announcement of 16.09 to journalists again by spokesman Matteo Bruni: "
The Pope at Gemelli for 'scheduled checks'
The news immediately went around the world, with the memory also of that July 4, 2021 when always at Gemelli Francesco had undergone colon surgery due to diverticular stenosis.
The tom-tam of hypotheses also started immediately, with only one evidence in the first hours: those "previously scheduled checks" soon appeared as an attempt not to spread excessive alarmism.
In fact, there was very little planned in the transport of the Pope to the Gemelli, if it is true that a planned interview with the presenter Lorena Bianchetti for "In the image of him" had to be canceled at the last moment.
ANSA Agency
Pope Francis for the first time at Gemelli in July 2021 - Chronicle
He had colon surgery.
Before him only John Paul II (ANSA)
Meanwhile, it began to emerge that the staff closest to Francesco - including the security device - had been mobilized
to spend the night at the University Hospital
.
It was also learned that all the Pope's audiences scheduled for tomorrow and Friday have been cancelled.
And from circles of the Holy See it transpired that "space has been made in the agenda so that the checks can continue for as long as necessary".
Certainly, Francis remained hospitalized in the apartment on the tenth floor, the so-called "dei Papi", which he already used for the ten-day hospitalization related to the colon operation, and previously used several times also by John Paul II.
In the late afternoon, therefore, it was learned from medical sources that all the tests that Bergoglio had to undergo had already been completed.
In particular the chest CT, which gave a negative result (and this element was evaluated with general relief by the entourage),
while the oxygen saturation in the blood would be monitored, which is fine anyway.
There would be no heart problems and the necessary respiratory tests would have been done.
The situation, according to the doctors,
it wouldn't cause much concern
.
Tests were also done to rule out more serious problems.
ANSA Agency
The health of Pope Francis, from the knee to the cataract - Chronicle
As a young man he underwent lung surgery, 2 years ago the one on the Colon (ANSA)
Now the Pope will remain
under therapy at Gemelli for the necessary time
, even if Holy Week is approaching, with all the pastoral commitments, even onerous ones.
An alternative plan has already been made in the Vatican for the celebrations of the Palms and the Easter Triduum.
Although the "respiratory infection" does not cause excessive concern, even in an 86-year-old patient like Francesco, account is taken of the resection of a part of the lung that Bergoglio underwent when he was a seminarian in Argentina for pneumonia.
However, it has been ascertained that the Pope, in addition to not having Covid, does not have COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) or idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, pathologies that can affect the respiratory system for which the tests to which he was subjected are carried out .
"
The presidency of the CEI
, on behalf of the Italian bishops, has expressed closeness to Pope Francis, since the afternoon of today (March 29) at the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital, ensuring the choral prayer of the Churches in Italy". This was announced in a statement from the Italian Bishops' Conference "While wishing the Holy Father a speedy recovery, the Presidency entrusts to the Lord the doctors and healthcare personnel who, with professionalism and dedication, take care of him and all the patients", concludes the statement.
