Pope Francis' health deteriorates, gets admitted back to ventilator

Vatican City: Pope Francis, who is under treatment for pneumonia, has been moved back to the ventilator after his condition deteriorated on Monday. He was brought out of the ventilator earlier on Monday morning after his condition improved. The Vatican said the Pope had two severe respiratory difficulties in the afternoon. Doctors then urgently removed phlegm from his lungs.

The 88-year-old Pope was admitted to the Gemelli Hospital in Rome on February 14 after suffering a respiratory illness.

Pope Francis has pneumonia in both lungs. The 88-year-old has been wheelchair-bound for a few years. The press releases from the Catholic Church have underscored his ‘complex’ medical situation. They are preparing the faithful for his death, George Callaghan wrote in Madhyamam last week.

The Pope is the spiritual leader of the Catholics. 60% of all Christians are Catholics. The Pope lives in Rome. That is why his followers are sometimes called Roman Catholics as well as usually being called simply ‘Catholics.’

Francis is a relatively liberal pope. He said that he does not condemn homosexuals, though the Church still considers their acts to be sinful. Moreover, he says women who have unnecessary abortions can be forgiven.

The Catholic Church requires its priests to take vows of celibacy. Therefore, these men never marry nor are allowed any physical intimacy. Other Christian denominations (Protestant and Orthodox) allow their religious leaders to wed.

Francis was born in Argentina to Italian parents. He is an Argentine and an Italian citizen from birth. He became a priest and was promoted up the ranks. He became a bishop (in charge of a few hundred priests). Later, he was promoted to archbishop (in charge of thousands of priests). Later, he was made a cardinal. There are up to 100 cardinals in the world.