The eyes of the whole world turned to the City of Rome when Pope Francis was admitted to the Gemelli hospital one year ago today.
But there had been warning signs only a few days earlier.
POPE FRANCIS
And now I will excuse myself a bit and ask the Master to continue the reading, due to difficulty breathing.
A long and difficult hospitalization began, lasting almost 40 days. The doctors managed to stabilize him, but they confessed that Pope Francis' situation was very delicate.
DR. LUIGI CARBONE
Doctor, Vatican City State
So, like all frail patients, I say that we are always on a knife’s edge. That is, it takes very little to become unbalanced.
The pope suffered several serious respiratory crises during this time, putting his life at constant risk. And yet he never lost his sense of humor.
DR. SERGIO ALFIERI
Doctor, Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital (Rome)
We go in and this morning I say to him: 'Good morning, Holy Father!' And he, with a little smirk: 'Good morning, holy son! There you go, just to give you an idea.
At 88 years old, the 14th of February last year marked the beginning of the end for Pope Francis—a day that shook the entire Church.
