Pope Francis is due to undergo diagnostic tests and will continue bronchitis treatments at Rome's Gemelli Polyclinic following his regular Friday engagements, the Vatican has confirmed.
Despite being diagnosed with bronchitis last Thursday, the 88 year old pontiff has been resolute in his duties, even managing a public appearance on Sunday and voicing potent political opinions earlier in the week.
However, it seems his busy schedule will be put on hold as he prioritises his health amid his bronchitis battle. His medical history includes recurrent bronchitis, and mobility within his residence is assisted by the use of a walker or cane.
Recent accidents within his apartment also saw him suffer injuries to his arm and chin. Regardless of his advancing age and ongoing health challenges, Pope Francis has consistently shown resolve in addressing critical global issues.
In one of his most recent confrontations, he took aim at US VP JD Vance's embrace of a medieval Catholic notion called Ordo Amoris in a pointed letter, without expressly mentioning Vance by name. The Pope's words were unequivocal: "Christians know very well that it is only by affirming the infinite dignity of all that our own identity as persons and as communities reaches its maturity.
"Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extend to other persons and groups. In other words: The human person is not a mere individual, relatively expansive, with some philanthropic feelings! The human person is a subject with dignity who, through the constitutive relationship with all, especially with the poorest, can gradually mature in his identity and vocation.", reports the Irish Star.
The Argentinian-born pontiff went on to say: "The true ordo amoris that must be promoted is that which we discover by meditating constantly on the parable of the 'Good Samaritan' (cf. Lk 10:25-37), that is, by meditating on the love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception."
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