One Nun, a Double Dose, and the Life of a Future Pope
Picture a young priest‑in‑training, the future Pope Francis, huddled in a nursing bed in the 1950s, fighting a vicious bout of pneumonia that the seminary doctor mistook for a mild flu.
What seemed like a routine misdiagnosis turned into a life‑saving drama, all thanks to one unyielding hospital nun.
How It All Began
- 1950s, South America: Francis, then studying for the priesthood, caught a nasty lung infection.
- The misstep: Dr. Jorge, the seminary’s physician, chalked it up to the flu and pushed him toward discharge.
- The quick turnaround: At the hospital, a sharper doctor finally saw the real culprit—pneumonia—and ordered two specific antibiotics.
Enter Sister Cornelia Caraglio
Right after the doctor’s brief exit, Sister Cornelia was at the bedside chatting to a nurse, whispering, “Double the dose, let’s give it all we’ve got.”
Airborne in a world where medical protocols often sway all ways, that decision was bold and, at least, wise.
The Result
That extra infusion stopped the infection in its tracks and kept the young Jorge from plunging into the “point of death.”
Months later, a lung surgery followed—an upper lobe removal—yet the earlier miracle had saved him against the odds.
Legacy & Lessons
When 81‑year‑old Francis slept a few weeks before, he shared this story in a candid interview with Spanish priest Fernando Prado titled “The Strength of Vocation.” The book, slated for release in several languages this week, mixes heartfelt confession with modern calling challenges.
The takeaway? That sometimes instinct and courage outgrow pills and prescriptions, and we may owe our triumphs to folks who dare to double a dose.
