The Lord has Returned Our Holy Father to Us for a While.

The Lord has returned our beloved Holy Father to us for a while. 

Pope Francis returned to his home at the Vatican earlier this week after a long bout with pneumonia. He had several close calls during his illness, including one moment when his doctors considered stopping intervention and letting him die peacefully. 

It is no small thing for a man of Pope Francis’ age, who does not have both lungs, to survive pneumonia. I followed the news about him daily and it was difficult, reading about the things that he went through. 

At one point, he vomited and then aspirated the vomit into his already sick lungs. He had endured an enormous amount of painful medical treatment, and the doctors were afraid that he might suffer organ damage from further intervention. They considered whether they should just stop and let Pope Francis die peacefully.  

I understand how they must have felt. There comes a point where the medical treatments are not prolonging life, they are dragging out the dying. Instead of giving hope of a future for the patient, these treatments are only prolonging and increasing the patient’s suffering. 

The same medical treatments that we rely on to heal us and give us additional years of life can become instruments of torture when they all they do is drag the dying process out and prolong its suffering. 

I believe that is what the doctors were considering when they questioned the wisdom of further intervention to bring Pope Francis back from the brink. He had already been through so much, and no matter what they did, he kept falling back into crisis. This was a moment when all they had to do was take a beat and he would be gone.

But one of the people in attendance said, “No. Let’s do all we can.” 

I’ve read articles which identified this person as a nurse. I’ve read other articles which identified him as someone who sounds like the pope’s medical advocate. I only know for sure that the doctors themselves said that this person, whoever they were, convinced them to do everything they could to reverse the dying process that Pope Francis had entered into when he breathed in the vomitus. 

People all around the globe were praying for the Holy Father. The doctors said that there were times when the possibility of recovery seemed hopeless, then, he would rally. They attribute this to our prayers. 

Now, Pope Francis is back at the Vatican and already doing as much of the work at hand as he can, although he is certainly on light duty. He made his first public appearance this week.  

Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla have decided to delay a planned state visit to the Vatican because of Pope Francis’ fragile health. I’m sure other, similar events will be either delayed or cancelled. 

We have Pope Francis for a while longer. As with every one of us, nothing is certain about the length of his days. All any of us can know is that we are here now, in this moment. 

I do not doubt that Pope Francis will use the time he has to do good for each of us, for the Church and for all of humanity. He is here for a reason. 

That is just as true of you and me. If you are alive in this time right now, there is a reason. You have a purpose, and it has nothing to do with making a lot of money and lording it over other people.

Don’t waste your life. Love the people in your life. Be honest, seek God and trust Him. And do not be afraid.