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March 28, 2025

Anna Murray 

When Pope Francis battled pneumonia for 38 days in the hospital in February, he came dangerously close to death at one point. His physicians contemplated stopping his treatment in the interim so he might pass away peacefully. Pope, however, was freed on March 23, five weeks later.

The head of the pope's medical staff at the Gemelli hospital in Rome is Dr. Sergio Alfieri. On February 28, the 88-year-old pope reportedly had a "bronchospasm" and inhaled his own vomit. The medical issue was so bad that doctors were concerned he wouldn't survive.

The Vatican issued a statement indicating that Pope Francis was initially admitted for bronchitis and diagnostic procedures but later developed double pneumonia. Pope was discharged from the hospital on March 23.