Pope Francis came close to death, doctors considered ending treatment: Physician

During his 38-day hospital stay for pneumonia, Pope Francis came so near to death that his physicians thought about stopping his treatment so he could pass away peacefully, according to the head of the pope's medical staff.

The most crucial event occurred on February 28, when the pope experienced a breathing crisis and ingested his own vomit, according to Professor Sergio Alfieri, who spoke to the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.

“We had to choose whether to stop and let him go or force it and try with all the drugs and therapies possible, running the very high risk of damaging other organs. And in the end, we took this path,” Alfieri said.