The Vatican Press Office said on
Saturday morning that the Sunday Angelus prayer will be
delivered only as a written text, like last Sunday.
The press office also said early on Saturday that Pope Francis
had rested well at the Agostino Gemelli Hospital.
In the text of his Angelus address last week, the pope thanked
the health professionals treating him at Rome's hospital and
said he needed therapy.
The 88-year-old Argentine pontiff did not read out the address
because doctors have said he needs absolute rest.
The morning update was issued after the head of the medical team
treating the pontiff at Rome's Agostino Gemelli Hospital said on
Friday afternoon that he is not out of danger and knows his
situation is serious as he battles pneumonia but he is not in a
life-threatening condition and is still in such good spirits
that he cracks jokes about his situation.
"The pope is not out of danger," said Professor Sergio Alfieri
in a press briefing at the Gemelli Hospital.
"But his life is not in danger now," he said, adding "today he
went to the chapel to pray" and saying "he's in good spirits and
makes quips" about his health.
Alfieri said the pope would stay in hospital at least for the
next week.
He said Francis is not attached to any machine to help him
breathe.
"When he has to, he inserts his nostrils for a bit of oxygen,
but he's breathing on his own and feeding himself".
He added that Francis had "always wanted us to tell the truth"
about his condition in his medical bulletins.
The pope has a lung infection and the real danger is his
contracting sepsis in his blood from it, Alfieri went on.
"The Pope has a lung infection and if by chance one of these
germs were to pass into the blood, there would be sepsis, the
real risk is if the germs pass into the blood.
"Today there are no such germs in the blood, the infection is
now only in the lung.
"This is the real risk that a person of his age can run", he
added, referring to the hypothesis of sepsis.
Meanwhile, in an interview published on Saturday by Milan daily
Corriere della Sera, Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro
Parolin, addressed rumours concerning the pontiff's possible
resignation.
The scenario of a possible papal resignation is no longer taboo
in the Vatican with already three cardinals, the 'retired'
Ravasi, and the two in office Aveline and Omella, who have
discussed the potential issue openly.
Cardinal Parolin said it was "useless speculation" in the
interview.
"We are now thinking about the health of the Holy Father, his
recovery, his return to the Vatican: these are the only things
that count", he explained.
"Thank God, the reports coming from the Gemelli are encouraging,
he is recovering.
"He has received work documents and this means he is progressing
well", also said the Secretary of State.
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