Vatican business continues as ailing Pope Francis holds work meeting in hospital

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Vatican business continues as ailing Pope Francis holds work meeting in hospital  The 88-year-old was well enough to meet senior Vatican colleagues in hospital despite still being in critical condition with double pneumonia.  READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2025/02/25/vatican-business-continues-as-ailing-pope-francis-holds-work-meeting-in-hospital  Subscribe to our channel. Euronews is available on Dailymotion in 12 languages

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00:00It's been over 10 days since Pope Francis began battling pneumonia in both lungs.

00:07His longest hospital stay as Pope.

00:10After recovering from a respiratory crisis, his clinical condition remains critical.

00:15For now, the Vatican said he will remain at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome where he is receiving

00:19treatment for as long as necessary.

00:21They treat me very well, with an extraordinary team of medical specialists, so we cannot

00:29exclude any possibility.

00:31I personally hope that the situation will be resolved, in the meantime it will be a

00:36long stay in the hospital, two, three or four weeks, because the doctors do not want to

00:43kill him until they are convinced that he can live a normal life.

00:49Despite his hospitalisation, the pontiff remains in charge of the Catholic Church.

00:54The government of the Church continues, because the Pope has a number two, who is the Secretary

00:59of State, a number three, who is the substitute of the Secretary of State, but these govern,

01:04let's say, a normal administration.

01:07For example, the Cardinal Secretary of State cannot appoint a bishop, he cannot create

01:13a new diocese, he cannot make a pact with one country or another.

01:18So, it is a transitional situation, but it does not mean that the Church remains without

01:25a government, but the Vice Pope does not exist, to be clear.

01:31In 2013, he wrote a resignation letter, in case his health ever stopped him from carrying

01:37out his duties.

01:38Why is he signing on the first day?

01:40In case of mental impediment, not physical impediment.

01:43I don't think that the physical impediment, which has existed for a few months, has stopped

01:48him or slowed him down.

01:50The impediment, the written resignations, are only needed in case, if he is not able

01:55to understand, or as he says, the verb he likes, to discern.

01:58But I don't think this is the case.

02:01Meanwhile, worshippers have gathered around the world and in the Vatican to pray for Pope

02:06Francis.

02:07Starting on Monday, the Vatican announced night-time prayers for the Pope's health,

02:12inviting Romans and others to join.

02:15The first prayer, held on Monday, is being led by Cardinal Parolin, the Vatican's Secretary

02:21of State.

02:22Giorgia Orlandi for Euronews in Rome.

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