Pope Francis weathers health concerns amid Holy Week preparations
Devotees are worried about the Pope's condition, stemming from the Mass celebrated by Francis on Palm Sunday. The voice of the Holy Father was notably weak, and he also refrained from reading the homily. Prof. Sergio Alfieri, a doctor who has operated on Francis twice, spoke on the matter. "It's normal for him to have moments of tiredness," the medic expressed.
The Mass officiated by Francis on Palm Sunday has raised concerns among the faithful. From the beginning of the service, the Pope had a weak voice. After listening to the Passion of the Lord, he paused for an extended moment and then continued the service without delivering a homily.
A surgeon from the Gemelli Polyclinic comments on the health condition. In a conversation with the Italian daily "Corriere della Sera," he mentioned that "he is unaware of any situation that could be worrisome." The doctor reminded everyone that Francis is 87 years old, and in the past, he had part of his lung removed. This certainly has an impact on his health.
The Holy Father is in good shape for his age, notwithstanding his occasional respiratory issues in colder weather, partly because of lung surgery many years ago — Alfieri was quoted by PAP.
The doctor highlighted that the pope undergoes regular check-ups and does not suffer from "any specific diseases."
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There's no cause for alarm
Prof. Alfieri pointed out that the 87-year-old Pope, like anyone else of his age, experiences "moments of weakness." He further noted that, unlike his contemporaries, he remains remarkably active and "rarely skips any of his duties."
It's worth noting that for just over a month, Francis has been dealing with voice problems. According to the pope’s colleagues, this is due to a prolonged respiratory infection.
Meanwhile, Francis prepares for the observances of Holy Week leading up to Easter Sunday. During this period, the Holy Father is scheduled to preside over four Masses and two services. One of these will be the Good Friday Way of the Cross taking place in the Roman Colosseum.
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