Elisabetta Piqué, an Argentine journalist and friend of Pope Francis, has stated that he will not resign his papacy amid his deteriorating health condition.
Piqué said Pope Francis has no plans to step down despite suffering two episodes of respiratory failure in the hospital.
This comes as the Vatican announced that Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, a former vicar of Rome, will take Francis’ place this week at the Ash Wednesday Lent service in Rome.
Francis has been hospitalized for about four weeks at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.
He was first admitted on February 14 with bronchitis, which developed into pneumonia in both lungs.
On Monday, the Vatican said Pope Francis experienced “two episodes of acute respiratory failure.”
It explained that the failure was caused by a “significant accumulation of endobronchial mucus” and a consequent narrowing of the airways.
The pontiff underwent two bronchoscopies, and doctors removed a buildup of secretions.
In the afternoon, Francis was given an oxygen mask to help with his breathing.
The Vatican said Pope Francis remained alert and cooperative throughout the procedure.
