Pope Francis Faces Dire Health Crisis: Doctors Considered Halting Treatment

Doctors caring for Pope Francis faced a critical decision during his recent hospitalization, as his condition deteriorated to the point where they considered discontinuing treatment. According to Dr. Sergio Alfieri, medical director at Gemelli Hospital, the 88-year-old pontiff suffered a severe coughing fit on February 28, inhaling vomit, which required emergency intervention to clear his airways and place him on non-invasive mechanical ventilation.

Dr. Alfieri described the emotional gravity of the moment in an interview with Corriere della Sera, saying, "For the first time, I saw tears in the eyes of some of the people around him. These were people who clearly love him like a father. We all understood the situation had worsened, and there was a real risk he might not make it."

Faced with a stark choice—whether to let the Pope go peacefully or aggressively pursue treatment, risking damage to other organs—the medical team ultimately opted for the latter, employing every available therapy and medication. Alfieri noted that the decision was guided in part by Massimiliano Strappetti, the Pope’s personal healthcare assistant, who urged the team to "try everything." Strappetti’s words echoed the collective determination: "We won't give up." And they didn’t.

Despite the grim prognosis at one point, Francis remained fully conscious even as his condition worsened. Alfieri recalled, "That evening was terrible. He knew, as we did, that he might not survive the night. But from the start, he insisted we tell him the truth about his condition." The Pope's resilience and transparency in the face of suffering undoubtedly left an impression on those around him.

Miraculously, Francis was discharged from the hospital on Sunday and has since returned home to Vatican City. A papal spokesman shared that the Pope is delighted to be back and is undergoing breathing and movement therapy as part of his recovery.