Home » Even in the hospital, Francis remains Francis: Confounding expectations, pulling strings

Even in the hospital, Francis remains Francis: Confounding expectations, pulling strings

Despite undergoing his longest hospitalization yet due to a complex respiratory infection and double pneumonia with an unclear prognosis, Pope Francis from the hospital has still managed to send the message that he’s in charge.

ROME – Despite his longest hospitalization to date, due to a complex respiratory infection and double pneumonia with an unclear prognosis, Pope Francis has managed to send the message that he’s still in charge even from his hospital room.

With no “vice pope” to pick up the slack, the center of government for the Catholic Church the past two weeks has no longer been the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City, but the papal suite on the 10th floor of Gemelli Hospital in Rome.