Pontiff Back On Ventilator

In the up-and-down world of Pope Francis, Monday fell on the downside as the 88-year-old pontiff suffered not just one, but two respiratory attacks. Doctors were required to intervene and clear out ‘copious’ amounts of mucus. As of Monday evening, the Pope was once again on a ventilator to assist his breathing.

This makes the third severe downturn the Pope has suffered since being admitted to the hospital for pneumonia on February 14. While the Vatican continues to insist that the Holy Father is alert and focused, he has been too ill to speak publicly or acknowledge the large number of well-wishers who have gathered outside the hospital. This continues to lead to speculation that the pontiff may soon step down if his condition doesn’t improve.

Repeatedly, the Vatican has said that the Pope is ‘resting comfortably,’ only for his condition to worsen again hours later. While Pope Francis has a long history of respiratory infections, this is his longest hospitalization since taking office in March 2013. Doctors are not saying how long this hospitalization might last.

The Pope’s official condition is ‘guarded,’ which means he is not yet out of danger. The sad truth is that he may never fully recover well enough to lead the world’s largest Christian denomination. Throughout his tenure, Pope Francis has been a continued voice in support of peace, and care for the poor and immigrants, and even stepped into the controversial area of supporting trans rights.

While the Vatican as a self-governing city/state remains independent from most political squabbles, Francis’ successor might find it necessary to take a harder line against warmongering countries such as the US, Russia, and Israel. There is no way to predict how the White House might respond were the Pope to directly challenge its actions. VP Fuxacouch is allegedly a devout Catholic, but at no point in history has the Vatican attempted to directly influence government policy.