BREAKING: Pope Francis in critical condition, Vatican says

A woman lays a rosary near candles adorned with pictures of Pope Francis outside the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic where Pope Francis is battling pneumonia, in Rome, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)(AP/Gregorio Borgia)

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis was in critical condition Saturday after he suffered a long asthmatic respiratory crisis that required high flows of oxygen, the Vatican said.

The 88-year-old Francis, who has been hospitalized for a week with pneumonia and a complex lung infection, also received blood transfusions after tests showed low platelet counts associated with anemia, the Vatican said in a late update.

“The Holy Father continues to be alert and spent the day in an armchair although in more pain than yesterday. At the moment the prognosis is reserved,” the statement said.

Doctors have said Francis’ condition is touch-and-go and that he is by no means out of danger. 

They have warned that the main threat facing Francis would be the onset of sepsis, a serious infection of the blood that can occur as a complication of pneumonia. As of Friday, there was no evidence of any sepsis, and Francis was responding to the various drugs he is taking, the pope’s medical team said in their first in-depth update on the pope’s condition.

More: https://wtop.com/national/2025/02/sepsis-a-threat-in-popes-pneumonia-battle-as-vatican-holy-year-celebrations-march-on-without-him/

said.

Bishop: “What does the Pope really want?”

 

A post by Bishop Rob Mutsaerts, Auxiliary Bishop of 's-Hertogenbosch (Bois-le-Duc), Netherlands. Translated from his blog in Dutch here. 

What is the synod underway in Rome actually about? Over and again, official Vatican sources are telling us many things. That it is not about theology, nor about doctrinal matters, nor about LGBTQ+, the ordination of women and the issue of celibacy. Neither is it, they add, about seeking to undermine or replace the hierarchical nature of the church or democratize the decision-making process. No, it would seem to be dealing with the question of what synodality is. After all, this is a synod on synodality.

Nobody seems to know what that is, and so the Pope has figured that we had better organize a synod on that. Then, maybe, we could find out. How? By listening. But if so, there is no escaping the fact that there must also be talk. By whom? By people who have been invited by the Pope.

Thus did Pope Francis invite a theologian who unabashedly proclaimed, “If we reach the consensus that the Church is essentially synodal, we will have to rethink the whole Church, all the institutions, the whole life of the Church in a synodal sense.” One of the bishops present openly confirmed that it will be necessary to depart from the apostolic tradition. Since then, a wealth of speakers has been preaching revolution. That this is not about theology or doctrine is an impossible illusion to keep up any longer. It is primarily about them. And this is what we shall see.

In a few days the final report will be published (it has probably been finalized for quite some time) and the people of God will also be treated to a letter. That the Holy Spirit has nothing to do with it has become obvious by now.

Whatever synodality may mean, synods exist, at any rate, in order to discover how we must set to work in the present age to encourage that people be brought to Christ. Trouble is, however, that Jesus and the salvation of souls (which is ultimately what faith is all about, after all) have hardly come up in all the listening sessions, schemas, and testimonies. There are no references at all to Church Fathers, saints and theologians, and again, very few to the Bible and Tradition; the Pope mostly cites himself and there is no question of any philosophical thinking at all. Most of the talk is dominated by feelings.

This has not produced clear ideas by any means, even though the purpose of a synod is to provide clarity. If there is one thing that Francis does not do, it is that. This has been demonstrated once again by the answers to the Dubia questions.

Without clear ideas, we continue to grope in the dark for shadows in the night and we are left with nothing but fabrications of the mind that are closer or further from the truth. But truth itself is not being sought. Surely, though, is it not the truth that sets us free? What on earth is the point of emphasizing the pastoral aspect if it is not clear that it is rooted in the truth? Words like “irregular,” “sodomy” and “feeling conscious of sin” are being studiously avoided. That might make someone feel upset, or worse, excluded!

So isn’t everyone welcome in the Church? Certainly, yes. The only people who should stay at home are those who feel that there is nothing wrong with them and that they have no need of conversion. Apart from them, everyone is welcome. But there is one condition: that they come to repentance and appeal to God’s mercy. That is the whole point of religion, after all. It’s about recognizing that there is a standard – call it the truth – that has been revealed to us, and that you are not up to that standard. That is why you go to Church. To ask forgiveness, and to be strengthened by God’s grace, by using the means of grace: the sacraments, God’s Word, support from the faith community, so that you work more and more toward the sanctification of your life.

Now that is the nub of the matter: people are demanding that the Church approve lifestyles that the Bible disapproves of. People want the Church to adjust the standards! But it can’t. Jesus said to the adulteress, “Go forth and sin no more.” The LGBT community insists that the Church now say: “Go forth and don’t worry, just stick to your lifestyle.” But cheap mercy is not to be obtained from Jesus. Certainly, He is merciful, but only on the condition of conversion.

If someone asks for my blessing, I will give it. I will not ask that person for a résumé beforehand. But if people ask me to bless a relationship that the Church (based on the word of Jesus Himself) considers sinful, I will obviously not give it to them. Don’t ask the Church to change what Jesus has clearly spoken about. If that makes people feel excluded, so be it. Jesus Himself excluded a lot of people. Of various categories of people He made it clear that they would not inherit the Kingdom of God. And to make that even more clear, He called them “hypocrites,” “brood of vipers,” “whitewashed tombs,” and more of these kinds of original biblical invective. Synod participants who believe that hospitality, inclusion, and diversity are the primary attributes of the Church should reread the Bible on those counts. I especially recommend the letters of Paul. 

Everyone is a sinner. And while we must love our neighbor, we must also be able to call certain acts sins. Vague, unclear answers will not draw anyone to the Church of Christ. Adapting to secular norms even keeps people away from Christ: it makes them feel confirmed in their unchurchly views. It is also unloving. The Church did not receive from Jesus as a first assignment the order to listen, but the order to be missionary: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

So what does the pope actually want? Why does he invite James Martin? Why so many pals in his image and likeness? Why does he choose Cardinal Hollerich as relator for the synod? (Hollerich has once again reasserted that a number of the Church’s positions are scientifically and sociologically ill-founded. No, dear Cardinal, these positions are biblically founded!) Why did he make ample time last week, amidst all the synodal bustle, to meet with Sister Jeannine Gramick who believes the Church’s teaching on ethical issues (of course, it again involves LGTBQ+) needs to be changed? Her organization has been condemned in the past. Why is he clearing space in his schedule during these busy weeks to receive Whoopi Goldberg with every honor? Following her visit, she declared that it was a fantastic one because of the pope’s acceptance of gay relationships and his openness to ordaining women. Was what she said accurate? The Vatican in no way refuted it. By the time she was twenty-five, Goldberg had already aborted seven children and she is still a strong supporter of abortion.

Is that what synodality is: listening to anyone and everyone who has anything at all to say? Is that why the pope is listening to precisely... these people? Without a single rebuttal? Or does he slowly but surely wish to ripen the synod members for these other sounds because he actually endorses the ideas they express? If not, why is he creating so much confusion by not answering a single question in a clear way?

Whatever the case, division within the synod has only increased during the synod. That this is not a fruit of the Holy Spirit should be obvious. That this synod on synodality is a disaster should also be clear by now. The same goes for the one who thought it up.

+Rob Mutsaerts

Doctors: Pope Francis “not out of danger”

Doctors treating Pope Francis give first briefing on his condition 

Elise Ann Allen/ Crux

February 21, 2025 at 7:30 pm

Doctors treating Pope Francis have said that the pontiff is “not out of danger” and will require at least another week of hospitalisation. They added he is not at immediate risk of death, but indicated that the situation is still precarious and that the development of sepsis is a concern. 

“Is the Pope out of danger? No, he’s not out of danger,” said Doctor Sergio Alfieri, director of the medical surgical department of Rome’s Gemelli Hospital and head of the Pope’s medical team there.

He spoke with journalists on the afternoon of 21 February in the first press conference doctors have given since Pope Francis was admitted to the facility on 14 February due to persistent bronchitis.

“Right now he is not at risk of dying, but the situation is realistically this, [that] the door is open to both possibilities,” Alfieri said.

He explained that the Pope was initially treated for a cold in the Vatican, which, given his age and his active schedule, developed into bronchitis that could no longer be treated there, and therefore required hospitalisation.

After being admitted to Gemelli, the Pope, who is especially vulnerable to respiratory illnesses after having part of one lung removed due to a serious bout of pneumonia as a young Jesuit, was diagnosed with a polymicrobial respiratory infection and bilateral pneumonia.

In terms of his current status, “the asthmatic bronchitis remains, the chronic disease remains,” Alfieri said, adding that the Pope “knows that the situation is serious” and that “sometimes he can’t breathe”

However, he said the Pope is currently breathing entirely on his own and is in good humour, often cracking jokes, while he also reads, works and moves around the room with assistance, sitting in a chair or going to the chapel to pray.

More: https://thecatholicherald.com/doctors-treating-pope-give-first-briefing-on-his-condition/

Doctors treating Pope Francis give first briefing on his condition 

Elise Ann Allen/ Crux

February 21, 2025 at 7:30 pm

Dutch bishop: Young people love traditional liturgy, not Pope Francis’ ‘synodality,’ climate agenda

Young people have ‘voted with their feet’ and left woke parishes in favor of ones ‘where the Holy Mass is still Holy Mass,’ Bishop Robert Mutsaerts said. ‘If the liturgy is an incoherent mess, if forgiveness and sin are forbidden words, then what are you doing there?’

Bishop Robert MutsaertsEWTN/YouTube

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Andreas Wailzer

 (LifeSiteNews) — Dutch Bishop Robert Mutsaerts has criticized the Catholic hierarchy for focusing on “climate change” and social justice issues instead of the salvation of souls. He said that young people are attracted by traditional liturgy and not by Pope Francis’ “synodality.”

In a blog published in December, Bishop Mutsaerts said that this negative trend has dominated the Catholic Church since the 1960s and the Second Vatican Council.

“How did it get to the point where we see what we see today in church circles? Rainbow flags, LGBT activists dancing around the altar, second-rate bands playing pop music, sermons that are an expression of political correctness rather than anything else?” he pointedly asked.

“How is it that beauty and truth have given way to ugliness and opinions? Ugly buildings, whitewashed walls, iconoclasm, and poorly acted performances that pass for liturgy. Kneelers and communion rails have been removed. The mystery, the sacred, the supernatural had to give way to horizontal flatness.”

The bishop said that he sees a hunger for tradition and transcendence in young Catholics.

“But this has not yet caught on in Rome,” he mused. “There, they are preoccupied with the new buzzword synodality.”

More: https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/dutch-bishop-young-people-love-traditional-liturgy-not-pope-francis-synodality-climate-agenda/

Police officer orders Catholic woman to leave public area because her views are ‘offensive’

 Simon Caldwell

February 10, 2025 at 8:23 pm

New video footage shows a police officer demanding a Catholic woman walk away from an abortion clinic simply because of what she is known to believe.

The officer of West Midlands Police is seen demanding that charitable volunteer Isabel Vaughan-Spruce leaves a public area where she was standing alone and praying silently.

In the footage, obtained by ADF UK, a Christian legal organisation, the police officer explained that he believes Miss Vaughan-Spruce’s “mere presence” may constitute “harassment, alarm and distress”.

He said he drew his conclusions because it was known that Miss Vaughan-Spruce held pro-life beliefs and belonged to a pro-life organisation.

He thus concluded that she was breaching the rules of the “buffer zone” – an area within 150m of an abortion facility.

The buffer zone legislation does not single out individuals to ban from the area for their beliefs, but rather prohibits behaviours amounting to “intimidation”, “harassment”, or “influencing a person’s decision to access” an abortion facility.

Miss Vaughan-Spruce said: “It has been made clear time and time again through the verdict of Birmingham Magistrates’ Court, through the concession and pay-out from the police, through the words of the former Home Secretary and through CPS Guidance – you cannot break the law by simply existing in a buffer zone, holding thoughts and beliefs in your mind.

“Every person has a right to stand in a public space and think what they want. The police officer told me that my “mere presence” was offensive – that’s nothing short of viewpoint discrimination.

“He believes that just because I hold pro-life beliefs, I am automatically a criminal in certain public areas. This isn’t right.”

More: https://thecatholicherald.com/police-officer-orders-catholic-woman-to-leave-public-area-because-her-views-are-offensive/

Simon Caldwell

February 10, 2025 at 8:23 pm

Update on Francis' Health Condition

 

Specola (InfoVaticana.com, 19 February) has some information about Francis' health.

- Francis is staying in a 'secure' apartment on the tenth floor of the Gemelli Clinic and is isolated, surrounded only by Vatican doctors and security, nurses and their secretaries, and he is not receiving any guests; any leaks must be avoided.

- Because of inadequate treatment, Francis has also developed a certain resistance to some medicines.

- Massimo Andreoni, professor emeritus of infectious diseases at the University of Tor Vergata in Rome, said:

The persistence of the clinical picture and the probable use of therapies with cortisone, which has the effect of partially reducing the immune defences because it is an immunosuppressant, have probably facilitated the appearance of bacterial and/or fungal superinfections, which now require an adjustment of the therapy directed against the newly identified germs.

Superinfections represent a "complication of an initial lower respiratory tract infection: as is often the case, if such an infection persists over time, it may in fact be complicated by the appearance of superinfections".

In the polymicrobial infection that affected Francis, "the initial lower respiratory tract infection was joined by the action of other germs - bacteria and/or fungi - which actually led to further infections relative to the initial condition. This is compounded by the fact that Francis' compromised clinical condition was prolonged for several days and did not resolve quickly'.

The appearance of these additional germs 'necessitated a change in therapy, with medication directed at the newly isolated germs'.

Another factor is the "probable use of cortisone, which is generally used in similar cases to treat asthma and respiratory distress: as it is also an immunosuppressant, it may in turn have facilitated the appearance of superinfections".

Therefore, "the combined action of these two elements, i.e. the persistence of the clinical picture and the probable use of cortisone, very probably facilitated the appearance of these superinfections, which require an adjustment of the therapy".

In cases of complications of the lower respiratory tract in which polymicrobial infections are detected, antibiotic drugs capable of blocking the growth of the various isolated germs are generally used". The effects of these therapies, he concludes, "should not be seen before 1 or 2 days of treatment".

- If Francis survives, he is expected to remain in the Gemelli hospital for at least twenty to thirty days.

- The administration of the Vatican is in the hands of Irish Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, who was appointed chamberlain by Pope Francis in 2019.

- Cardinal Parolin is the only one allowed to visit Francis in his room in Gemelli.

Source: Gloria.tv

Sacrificing Catholics for Ecumenism

 Catholics, especially younger Catholics, are urged under the name of charity to be more open to Protestants, which is difficult if not impossible to delineate from simply being less Catholic.

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  Sarah Cain

  
  

  It’s no secret that the Catholic Church is bleeding members. According to Pew Research, those who have left Catholicism outnumber those who have joined the Catholic Church by nearly a four-to-one margin. As such statistics continue to worsen, the emphasis on evangelization grows. Yet, few can state what that ought to look like. So much of the focus has been upon reaching “across the aisle” and attempting to assimilate with Protestants.  

  A recent case of a Catholic young adult group chat that was admonished by clergy for sharing memes with a jocular approach to Protestant themes serves as an example. Catholics, especially younger Catholics, are urged under the name of charity to be more open to Protestants, which is difficult if not impossible to delineate from simply being less Catholic, even though those who promote this behavior would never admit their stance with such candor. 

  One of the principal arguments posed against enthusiastic Catholics is that they will be offensive to Protestants and thereby drive them away. Thus, be careful about those memes, kids, lest someone might be repelled by jocularity. But this is a rather new mindset, out of lockstep with human behavior and a long chain of saints who said the truth because it was the truth and because people had a right to hear it. In Decem Rationes, Edmund Campion talked of Protestants in a way that might not be considered ecumenical today:

  Throughout the whole course of fifteen centuries these men find neither town, village nor household professing their doctrine, until an unhappy monk by an incestuous marriage had deflowered a virgin vowed to God, or a Swiss gladiator had conspired against his country, or a branded runaway had occupied Geneva.

  More: https://crisismagazine.com/opinion/sacrificing-catholics-for-ecumenism