This week, the health of Pope Francis has been the focus of global headlines due to the longest hospital admission during his nearly 12-year papacy.
What was unexpectedly notable, however, was the volume of information shared regarding the Pope’s health through daily briefings conducted by the Vatican and the Pope’s medical team.
The updates, often candid and at times quite direct, raised concerns about the pontiff’s health but also indicated a shift in the Vatican’s approach to communicating such personal matters.
A routine was established, featuring a brief morning bulletin accompanied by a more comprehensive clinical assessment in the evening.
For many seasoned Vatican observers, the inclusion of the term “crisis” in the statements was as startling as the medical news itself.
In the past, such straightforward evaluations have been considered inappropriate, with revealing medical details deemed unseemly or even indecent.
Reporters from around the globe have been congregating at St Peter’s Square this week.
During a press conference held by the Pope’s medical team at Rome’s Gemelli hospital last week, it was revealed that the Pope himself had requested daily updates.
Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the leader of the team caring for Pope Francis, along with Dr. Luigi Carbone, the Vice-Director of the Vatican health service, addressed journalists for over thirty minutes, discussing both the Pope’s current state and his long-term prognosis.
This represents a significant change and may indicate a different perspective under this Pope compared to some of his predecessors as well as a growing recognition by the Vatican of the risks and impact of misinformation.
Thomas Reese, a Jesuit priest with extensive knowledge of the papacy, told Reuters that “the Vatican has finally learned that it is better to be forthcoming than to let conspiracy theorists fill the void.”
Although speculation about the health of Pope John Paul II persisted for years before the Vatican confirmed he had Parkinson’s disease, he had also permitted discussions about his medical condition during multiple hospitalizations throughout his 25-year papacy.
In recent days, the Vatican has issued updates on the Pope’s health twice daily.
Pope John Paul II, who became Pope at 58, saw his health increasingly scrutinized during the latter years of his papacy.
Pope Francis, however, was elected at the age of 76, having already faced significant health challenges in his earlier years, which meant inquiries about his health and his capacity to manage a rigorous schedule were prevalent from the onset of his papacy, leading 1.2 billion Catholics.
The proliferation of misinformation in recent years has heightened awareness that institutions, which may have previously hesitated to disclose details, risk allowing inaccurate information to spread rapidly if no official narratives are provided.
The unexpected passing of Pope John Paul I in 1978, just 33 days after his election, ignited a variety of conspiracy theories long before the term “internet sleuth” was ever conceived.
In the subsequent years, many commentators attributed the proliferation of theories regarding Pope John Paul I’s death to a lack of transparency.
It may be, at least partially, lessons learned from such events that have encouraged the Vatican to recognize the necessity of providing more information to help people feel involved in the genuine concerns surrounding the Pope’s health and well-being.
