Pope Francis has developed pneumonia in both lungs, with tests raising concerns about the ability of the 88-year-old pontiff to fight off the infection.
The Vatican said his respiratory illness also involves asthmatic bronchitis, which requires the use of cortisone antibiotic treatment. “Laboratory tests, chest X-ray, and the Holy Father’s clinical condition continue to present a complex picture,” it said.
But the Pope, who had the upper lobe of his right lung removed as a young man, is in good spirits, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni added.
The pontiff was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital in a “fair” condition on Friday after a week-long bout of bronchitis worsened. On Monday, medical personnel determined he was suffering from a polymicrobial respiratory tract infection, meaning a mix of viruses, bacteria and possibly other organisms had infected his respiratory tract.
“The follow-up chest CT scan which the Holy Father underwent ... demonstrated the onset of bilateral pneumonia, which required additional drug therapy,” Mr Bruni said.
Bronchitis can lead to pneumonia, which is a deeper and more serious infection of the air sacs in the lungs. Pneumonia can develop in part of one lung or an entire lung, or both lungs. It tends to be more serious when both lungs are affected because there is no healthy lung tissue to compensate.
Treatment varies by severity but can include providing oxygen through a nasal tube or mask, intravenous fluids, and treatment of the underlying cause of the infection. To date Pope Francis is not known to be using supplemental oxygen, and he has eaten breakfast every day, read the newspapers and done some work from his hospital room.
The Vatican has not provided any information about how the pontiff is responding to any of the drugs he has been given other than to say he is not running a fever.
The Vatican has given no indication of how long the Pope might remain in hospital, only saying that the treatment of such a “complex clinical picture”, which has already required several changes in his drug regimen, would require an “adequate” stay.
In a sign that Vatican business was proceeding as usual on Tuesday, the Vatican No 2, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, continued a delicate visit to Burkina Faso and another top Vatican cardinal, Cardinal Michael Czerny, prepared to leave on Wednesday for a five-day visit to Lebanon.
But other business had to be cancelled. There will be no weekly general audience with the Pope on Wednesday, and it was not clear if Francis will miss his Sunday noon blessing for a second week in a row. His admission to hospital has also forced the cancellation of some events surrounding the Vatican Holy Year, the once-every-quarter-century ceremony in which millions of pilgrims flock to Rome.
This Holy Year weekend was dedicated to deacons, the ministry that is a necessary step for men who are preparing to become priests. Pope Francis had an unrelated audience on Saturday and was supposed to have ordained the deacons during a Mass on Sunday. The Vatican on Tuesday announced his audience was cancelled.
The surgery Francis underwent as a young man makes him prone to bouts of bronchitis in winter. He has admitted in the past that he is a non-compliant patient, and even his close Vatican aides have said he pushed himself too far even once his bronchitis was diagnosed.
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
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Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
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German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
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