From excretion to oxygen, why does the Vatican share so many details about the Pope’s health?

It’s all for the first time.

But the phrase “abundant excretion” in official update from the Vatican On Pope Francis? This level of detail can be surprising even to those who are not aware of historically how taboo It was considered openly discussing the Pope’s health.

As a leader of world Catholics of 1.4 billion, the Pope is a valued spiritual figure. Talking about his earthly health was prof.

“The reduction of Pope’s health problems is part of the great Vatican tradition. In Rome, it is often said that” Pope is good health until he dies, and maybe even shortly after, “he noted French Catholic Media Outlet Lacroix International in March 2023during another of Francis’s hospitalizations.

Still, u Update on MondayThe Vatican press wrote: “Today, the Holy Father introduced two episodes of acute respiratory insufficiency, caused by a large accumulation of endobronchial mucosa and a consequent bronchospasm.

“Therefore, two bronchoscopies were made, with the need for aspiration of heavy excretion.”

This follows weeks of similar, daily updates for the Pope to fight with double pneumonia at the Gemelli Hospital from February 14th. The press office divided when the Pope had a fever as his The kidneys functioned and his white blood. He gave such details as if Ponten’s use of oxygen with high flow and his need for blood transfusions.

“These are very specific details that we would never have had in the past,” said David Perlich, a Vatican analyst of the CBC who has covered the topic for the last 25 years.

“I was surprised by the level of honesty and the level of detail.”

So why change?

New transparency

Transparency is certainly new, even for Francis, which was considered to be a long health of a private question, Perlich explained.

Historically speaking, the Vatican acted in a much more opaque way, notes New York Timeswith a tendency to blur. For example, gastric cancer that hit Pope John XXIII for at least eight months was discovered only long after his death in 1963.

Pope John Paul II, whose papacy lasted from 1978 to 2005, had been visible for years before the Vatican in 2003 finally confirmed that he had Parkinson’s disease. 25. February 2005, Morning after the Operation of Ivan Paul II For tracheotomy, the Vatican announced a statement that he was breathing and ate well, and enjoyed the breakfast that included 10 Biscotti. He died just over a month later.

“The Vatican is currently doing a very sensitive balance with the Pope’s health data,” Perlich said.

“On the one hand, they want to respect the privacy and dignity of an elderly man who is in the hospital and very ill. On the other hand, there is an acknowledgment that as a leader more than a billion Roman Catholics in the world and globally a well -known person necessarily curious about Pope’s health.

Information in the time of misinformation

And if you do not publish accurate information, you get rumors and guesses, Perlich said.

When Francis was first hospitalized, all kinds of reports – true and not – abound in Francis’ health. They would take over their own lives in the time of chat groups, conspiracy theories and internet memos – not to mention the perennial Roman fixation of the Pope and who could inherit it.

February 21, CRUX website Catholic news They reported that several top helpers Pope returned the rumors of Francis’ death or resignation, going to Italian television to ensure people that “things that are said are exactly what is happening.”

So, this transparency of his health actually provides Francisco dignity in a difficult situation, Perlich said – even until information about his “excretion” (which Perlich suggests that he is indeed more Italian transport).

“So much dignity is given to his illness and a very sick 88-year-old man because they share information. There is no gossip and guess.”