Pope Francis revealed that his health was at risk after the surgery he underwent almost two months ago and admitted that during his convalescence a nurse “saved his life”. Thanks to that “I am alive”, said the pontiff and questioned, at the same time the rumors about an alleged resignation: “Whenever a Pope is sick, there is a breeze or a conclave hurricane”.
This is the first time that Jorge Bergoglio admits what during the first days of July were only speculation and journalistic rumors: there were complications in his health and because of his stay at the Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome, it was longer than expected.
In those days, the Argentine pope had to undergo surgery for a severe diverticular stenosis with signs of sclerosing diverticulitis, in which part of the colon was removed. He was ten days hospitalized in the Italian capital and the only complication that was discussed was “a few tenths of fever” that he raised four days after the operation.
The Pope was saved by a nurse
Already recovered from that episode and back to the plenary session of his activities, Francisco gave details of those days during an interview with the Spanish radio station COPE, of which some fragments today transcended and which will be broadcast in full next Wednesday.
-How are you?
–Still alive –Answered the Pope.
“I understand that the action of a nurse was what alerted him,” commented the journalist Carlos Herrera.
–Saved my life. A man of much experience. It is the second time in my life that a nurse has saved my life. The first was in the year 57.
Bergoglio referred to a fact that he had already told before and that It happened when I was a seminarian. In that year, when I lived in ArgentinaHe suffered from a very severe pneumonia for which he was receiving treatment. It was then that a nun with nursing knowledge changed the medication that, finally, gave more results than the one prescribed by the doctors.
“Conclave Hurricanes”
In the interview with Spanish radio, the Pope also referred to the journalistic versions that circulated during his hospitalization and that made reference to auPossible resignation due to health problems.
“When the pope’s health is questioned, many think or insist on the old argument of resignation,” the journalist commented.
“Whenever a Pope is ill, there is a breeze or a conclave hurricane,” Bergoglio answered ironically.
According to the interviewer, in the meeting with the Pope that took place in the library of the Santa Marta residence These speculations and other personal issues were also discussed.
In the last public appearances Francisco appeared fully recoveredAlthough in a recent hearing with Catholic legislators, he began his speech apologizing for not being able to speak standing up because he is still “in the postoperative period of his intervention.”
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