Vatican journalists crowded into a side room of the Holy See Press Office on Saturday to get a full update on the pontiff’s health after he took a turn for the worse the afternoon before.
Pope Francis suffered a bronchial spasm on Friday that caused him to vomit, some of which got into his lungs and dramatically set back his days of steady recovery. He was last known to be on mechanical ventilation, though still alert — the worst condition he’s been in since entering Gemelli Polyclinic two weeks ago.
“The night passed peacefully, the pope is resting,” the Holy See Press Office had said earlier Saturday morning, a nearly copy-and-pasted update sent each morning to simply affirm the pontiff is still alive.
A spokesperson for the press office, known as the Sala Stampa, arrived before noon to deliver brief remarks and field questions.
Writers held out their tape recorders and cellphones to capture the crucial update — the pope “drank coffee” that morning.
Questions about the continued use of a mechanical ventilator, the progression of the Holy Father’s lung infection, and other obvious information gaps were unable to be answered.
It’s perhaps the most opaque and indiscernible health update since Pope Francis was admitted to the hospital and comes at a time of deep confusion among the faithful about the fate of the Holy Father.
Cautious optimism grew earlier in the week as the twice-daily health updates affirmed that the pope was eating solid food, sitting up in his armchair, and even taking care of simple work tasks from the comfort of his hospital room.
Now, the recovery hoped for by Catholics around the world seems more distant than ever.
These piecemeal and often unclear health updates are par for the course when it comes to any royal sovereign’s life being jeopardized by illness.
Not wanting to confuse the public or declare a recovery just to have the situation take a turn, expectations for full recuperation are presented with guarded and conditional language.
At the same time, information about the possible death of monarchs — secular or spiritual — has throughout history been meticulously managed and curated to prevent panic or chaos among subjects as transitional mechanisms are set into motion.
It would be equally embarrassing for ancient and prestigious press offices such as the Sala Stampa to mislead the public before an unexpected death or surprise recovery.
WATCHING AN AILING PONTIFF: WHAT COULD COME NEXT FOR THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
With these concerns in mind, offering information like the pope drinking coffee is a fig leaf gesture to provide something — anything — new for the rabid journalists demanding updates amid a volatile and guarded prognosis.
Throughout the ordeal, Pope Francis has been receiving daily the Eucharist, the central sacrament of the Catholic Church, which believes to be the literal body and blood of Jesus Christ.
Catholic clerics and laity have faithfully gathered each night in St. Peter’s Square to recite the rosary for the sake of the pope, being led in their prayer by members of the College of Cardinals.
