Pope Francis has told his aides that he might not make it through his current battle with pneumonia and is already making plans for his legacy, including speculation on choosing his successor.
The 88-year-old pope was admitted to hospital last Friday when he was diagnosed with double pneumonia, which involves inflammation and scarring of both lungs, gradually worsening the process of breathing.
Despite the Vatican's release on Monday indicating that the condition of the Pope was stable, reports from The Sun have confirmed that Pope Francis now worries he may not survive the illness.
In its report on Wednesday morning, the Vatican released news that the Pope had a quiet night and slept well, waking up feeling healthy. "He had a quiet night, woke up, and had breakfast," the report indicated.
Aside from the pneumonia, the Pope is also struggling with asthmatic bronchitis, which has been treated with antibiotics and cortisone. The doctors have cited that his respiratory problems are being triggered by a mix of viruses, bacteria, and other possible microorganisms, making it more difficult for him to recover.
Bronchitis can lead to pneumonia, a more serious infection of the air sacs in the lungs. Both lungs involved are a very serious situation since less healthy lung tissue is available to do the work.
The Vatican has reported that Pope Francis, who had half of his right lung taken out while he was young, has received a course of medical exams, including chest X-rays and laboratory tests.
The Pope's hospitalization comes after a week-long fight with bronchitis that got worse, culminating in his admission to Rome's Gemelli hospital. Although initially admitted in a "fair" state, new scans detected bilateral pneumonia, necessitating intensified care.
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