Notes on the Bishop of Rome

I’m not the useful kind of doctor, but doesn’t look great for Francis:

Pope Francis has developed pneumonia in both lungs and will not participate in activities through the weekend because of his health issues, the Vatican announced on Tuesday.

Francis, who was admitted to a hospital in Rome on Friday, had initially been diagnosed with a polymicrobial infection, which means he has a mix of microbes, like a virus or bacteria, in his lungs or another part of his respiratory tract.

In an update on his status Tuesday evening, the Vatican said that the 88-year-old pope’s clinical condition “continued to present a complex picture” and that his treatment would be modified.

The infection “arose on a picture of bronchiectasis and asthmatic bronchitis,” which required the use of cortisone antibiotic therapy, the Vatican said. A CT scan carried out Tuesday showed the “onset of bilateral pneumonia” which required additional drug therapy, the Vatican added.

“Nevertheless, Pope Francis is in good spirits,” and was grateful for the prayers for his recovery, the Vatican said.

I don’t know a ton about what comes next; I expect that djw will have an Election of the Day: Vatican City if worse comes to worst. Chatter online is that Francis has stacked the College of Cardinals in such a way that we’re unlikely to get drooling reactionary, which at this particular moment in history would be… bad. I suppose also that I should be watching Conclave…

Photo Credit: By Quirinale.it, Attribution, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=129042272