Pope Francis Survives Severe Pneumonia Crisis

Pope Francis faced a near-death experience during his 38-day hospitalization for bilateral pneumonia at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, where his medical team considered letting him die peacefully following a severe breathing crisis on February 28. The crisis involved the Pope inhaling his vomit, which left him gasping for air and presented a critical juncture for the medical team, led by Sergio Alfieri. Despite the risks of organ damage, the team, encouraged by the Pope's nurse Massimiliano Strappetti, opted to proceed with aggressive treatments. Pope Francis was discharged on March 23 and returned to the Vatican, where he has been prescribed an additional two months of rest to recover fully from the lung infection. His hospitalization marked his most severe health crisis since his papacy began, due to his history of pleurisy and partial lung removal. The Vatican provided unusually detailed updates on his condition, reflecting the transparency requested by the Pope himself.