Pope Francis continues to be hospitalized due to severe lung infections and pneumonia as some wonder whether he may consider resigning, Breitbart reported. He would be the second consecutive pope to do so after his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, stepped down for health reasons.
The Vatican reported a "slight improvement" to his health as of Thursday after being admitted to Gemelli Hospital in Rome on Feb. 14. Still, it's a long road ahead for the 88-year-old pontiff who has endured a series of illnesses in recent years.
Francis currently suffers from complex respiratory infections, including viral, bacterial, and other pathogens that led to pneumonia in both lungs. He also has asthmatic bronchitis, which is a chronic condition that already makes breathing difficult.
Doctors have ordered "absolute rest" for Francis to recover. However, several cardinals are already suggesting that he take the route of his predecessor after Benedict XVI "opened the door" to resignation as an option.
Benedict announced in 2013 that he would step down from his position as the head of the Catholic Church. It was the first time in 600 years that it happened, and he cited ailing health and the inability to travel.
Now, it seems many believe Francis could take the same route, given his condition. "Everything is possible," Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, Archbishop of Marseille, France, said.
Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi similarly believes that Francis may step down if his condition doesn't improve. "There is no question that if he was in a situation where his ability to have direct contact (with people) as he likes to do … was compromised, then I think he might decide to resign," Ravasi said.
It's likely that the road back to health will be a long one if Francis even makes it out of the hospital. He had a portion of one lung removed and is in poor physical condition, though his heart is still strong.
Still, Francis has said in the past that the pontificate is a vocation for a lifetime. During his most recent hospital stay, Francis still conducted the business of the church, including appointing new cardinals.
There's no shame in stepping down from the office of the pope if Francis is no longer able to assume his duties. However, it would be admirable to see him continue on with his pontificate amid intense suffering.
Catholics believe that enduring suffering, or embracing one's cross, is noble and can be offered up for the salvation of souls. Many, including Cardinal Comastri, believe that Benedict's predecessor, Pope John Paul II, is an example of such heroic suffering.
"The image we saw on television is unforgettable," Castri told the National Catholic Reporter in 2020. "The pope, who had lost all his physical strength, holding the Crucifix in his hands, gazing at it with pure love. One could sense he was saying: 'Jesus, I too am on the Cross like you. But together with you, I await the Resurrection.'" the cardinal recalled.
"John Paul II was a true master of pain redeemed by love and transformed into an antidote to selfishness: a redemption of human selfishness. This is possible only by opening one’s heart to Jesus: only with Him can one understand and give value to pain," Castri said.
Catholics throughout the world are praying for Pope Francis' recovery. The pontiff may sometimes be controversial, but like any father, he's still worthy of love and prayers from his children.
