[Pope Watch] ‘Painful to imagine’

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'We hope and pray for the Pope’s good health'

It was around 4:30 am (Manila time) on Wednesday, February 19, when I woke up and saw disturbing news from the Vatican: Pope Francis has double pneumonia.

It felt like waking up to a nightmare. I immediately got up, opened my computer, and published this Reuters report for our Rappler readers.

Thankfully, around 11 hours later, a bulletin from the Holy See Press Office gave us much relief: “The Pope spent a restful night, woke up, and had breakfast.” 

Ordinarily, a person’s breakfast is not headline material. But on Wednesday, it was. It meant the Holy Father was alert and not on a ventilator — which would be too much to bear for an 88-year-old man who had part of one lung removed when he was a young adult.

Still, the world is anxiously waiting for news, this time, about the Pope’s complete recovery. 

Hello, I’m Paterno Esmaquel II, senior multimedia reporter covering religion for Rappler.

I’m writing you this special newsletter — Pope Watch — where we will update you on the Pope’s health as he remains confined in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.

To keep you up to speed, here’s a brief timeline of events:

February 5: Pope Francis says in his Wednesday general audience that he is battling a “strong cold,” then requests an aide to read his prepared speech.

February 6: The Vatican says the Pope has bronchitis and will hold his audiences at Casa Santa Marta, his residence, on February 7 and 8.

February 6 to 13: Francis continues his regular activities and, on February 9, even presides over a morning Mass for the Jubilee of Armed Forces, Police, and Personnel — an outdoor event — where the weather was around 14 degrees Celsius.

February 14: Francis is brought to the hospital for diagnostic tests and bronchitis treatment after struggling to speak in one of his meetings with a Puerto Rico-based group and at least three personalities, including Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle.

February 17: The Vatican says the Pope has a “polymicrobial infection of the respiratory tract,” described as a “complex clinical situation” that will require a change in therapy.

February 18: The Vatican cancels all events on the Pope’s calendar until February 23. Later that day, it announces that Francis has the onset of double pneumonia. 

Multiple reports recount how the Pope initially refused to go to the hospital, but now has to follow his doctor’s orders. 

The good news is that his blood tests “show a slight improvement, particularly in the inflammatory markers,” according to a Vatican bulletin at around 2:45 am (Manila time) on Thursday, February 20. 

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, his first known hospital visitor, said that he was “alert and responsive” and that “we joked as always.”

We hope and pray for the Pope’s good health.

I cannot help but echo the words of Brazilian theologian Leonardo Boff, an 86-year-old liberation theology icon, who tweeted a tribute to Francis on February 18, which papal biographer Austen Ivereigh retweeted.

Boff wrote in Portuguese: “Humanity needs the charismatic figure of Pope Francis to continue living, as he never tires of proclaiming the end of war and hatred and announcing the power of love among all, peace, and social friendship. He is one of the beacons guiding us toward a good end for humanity.”

“May God preserve him,” Boff said.

What about you? What’s your message for Pope Francis?

Write a brief message or express it through art, and send it to us through the faith chat room of the Rappler Communities app by Friday, February 21. We will send your messages to the Vatican.

Check out the related stories below for more details about the Pope’s health.

Here’s to hoping the next newsletter will be good news! – Rappler.com