Pope Francis plans cardinal meeting amid health concerns

The German agency KNA reports that the Pope wants to convene a consistory, meaning a meeting of all cardinals. He is said to have informed about this during a meeting in the hospital with the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and his deputy, Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra.

The date of the meeting has not yet been set.

The meeting is to be called in connection with the canonisation of saints – a tradition that is observed in the Vatican. There would be nothing unusual about this, if not for the deterioration in Francis's health. The media remind us that Benedict XVI announced his resignation on 11 February 2013, also during a consistory convened for the same occasion.

The hierarchs asked about the potential resignation of Francis do not wish to take a definitive stance. The Archbishop of Marseille, Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, stated that "everything is possible." Meanwhile, Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi said in an interview with Corriere della Sera that if Francis had difficulty performing his duties, he would make such a decision. However, he doubts it will happen this year due to the Jubilee Year being celebrated in the Church.

Journalists at the Vatican were informed that Francis spent the night from Tuesday to Wednesday calmly and is spending the day in an armchair.

It is likely that the results of the CT scan, conducted on Tuesday to monitor bilateral pneumonia, will be presented in the evening medical bulletin.

The Pope was admitted to hospital on 14 February, initially diagnosed with bronchitis. It is now reported to be bilateral pneumonia. He has never been hospitalised this long before. His condition is described by doctors as critical but stable.

At 8 PM Greenwich Time, a prayer for the Pope's health will be led at St. Peter's Square by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re.

Sources: KNA/PAP