Pope Francis made his opinion clear about the medical ethics of the end of life. The one we do not know is that of the Vatican

With Pope Francis in the hospital, he already hopes to know how the respiratory crisis evolves in the midst of his hospitalization for pneumonia, many things have stopped in the Vatican. The Holy City and “Renewable”For example. The Pontiff’s plans to make the small Catholic state more sustainable have remained in Stand By. Controversial issues have also been revived that have always been on the table. Without going any further, Francisco’s possible final.

An unavoidable question. I told it a few days ago The New York Times Bringing a topic that the Vatican has preferred to avoid: What happens when a pontiff faces a prolonged deterioration of his health, loses his faculties and approaches at the end of his life?

At 88, Francisco has spoken in the past about ethics in medical decision making in terminal cases, but has never revealed its own preferences in this regard. Although He left a letter of resignation in the Vatican in case of disability, its content is unknown and it is not known if you have designated someone to make medical decisions in their name.

The silence of the “house.” The Vatican, faithful to his tradition of secrecy, has replied that “It’s too soon” To discuss these issues, despite the growing concern within the Church. Meanwhile, medical bulletins have also been prudent, informing that the Pope’s condition It remains stable And that, after its respiratory crisis, has been able to do without mechanical ventilation (He has even spoken).

Be that as it may, uncertainty persists and the lack of a public protocol on how to manage the end of the life of a pontiff is sufficient reason for debate between theologians and ecclesiastical experts.

The moral dilemma. The Catholic Church teaches that life must be defended From conception to natural death. However, within the doctrine there is a margin of interpretation When it is legitimate to stop prolonging it artificially.

According to the Magisterium of the Church, the Use of “Extraordinary Media” To keep a patient alive, they can be suspended if they suppose disproportionate suffering or do not offer real improvement. The problem is that there is no clear definition of what constitutes an extraordinary medium, which leaves space for various interpretations within the Catholic clergy and bioethics.

The doctrinal ambiguity. While some consider that treatments such as probe food, resuscitation or dialysis should be maintained until the last moment, others argue that, when death is inevitable, prolonging agony It makes no moral sense.

In 2020, The Vatican published a document which reaffirmed the legitimacy of palliative care and the suspension of ineffective treatments, but made it clear that it should not be confused with euthanasia or assisted suicide, which are considered “intrinsically perverse” within the Catholic doctrine.

The shadows of the secret. The mystery around the medical decisions of Pope Francis adds to the general uncertainty about what would happen if a pontiff was in a vegetative state or without the ability to govern the Church. Some sources suggest that their predecessor, Benedict XVI, left a document On this matter, but its content is unknown and the Vatican has refused to confirm its existence.

The lack of transparency only feeds the fear that, in case of crisis, chaos is unleashed within the curia, with struggles between factions that might want to artificially prolong the life of the Pope or precipitate his replacement.

Tensions and conspiracies. He Vatican Analyst Thomas J. Reese He warned in the Times that secrecy on these issues is a serious error, since it could generate internal disputes and conspiracy theories, as happened with the mysterious death of Juan Pablo I In 1978, who died 33 days of his pontificate in circumstances that still feed speculation today.

Reese points out that, if in a family the lack of a will can cause tensions about when to stop prolonging the life of a loved one, in the Vatican this could lead to an institutional crisis unprecedented.

Francisco’s position. Throughout its pontificate, Francisco has publicly approached the question of the end of life from a pragmatic and human perspective. In 2017, he wrote that medicine It has advanced greatlybut it is not always beneficial to prolong life at all costs. For the current Pope, accepting death with dignity is a way of recognizing the limits of the human condition. A vision that coincides with that of previous pontiffs such as Pius XII, who in the 50s had already suggested that, in certain circumstances, it was legitimate to reject invasive treatments.

In 2024, the Pontifical Academy for Life published a document that deepens these debates and offered a guide on how to face the end of life from an ethical perspective. That document included A vital testament template In order for Catholics to express their desires regarding medical care in their last stage, but, again, it is unknown if Pope Francis has elaborated his own.

The outcome. Cardinal Paul Gallagher, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Vatican, has suggested that Francisco could be discussing these issues With their doctors in private, but without an official statement, everything remains in the field of speculation. What seems clear is that the recent deterioration of Pope Francis’s health has put on the table an issue that the Vatican has not wanted to face publicly: what happens when a pontiff cannot continue ruleing?

Although the doctrine allows to suspend extraordinary treatments, the lack of clarity about what this means in practice could generate a crisis within the Church. It is possible, perhaps, that Francisco take advantage of this situation to mark a precedent in transparency about the end of a Pope’s life.

Image | Catholic Church, Pexels

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