The doctors who cared for Pope Francis during his life-threatening health battle over the past few weeks at one point thought there might be no choice but to let him die.

Professor Sergio Alfieri, the doctor in charge of caring for the pontiff after he was admitted to Gemelli hospital in Rome, told the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera about the grim prognosis the pope faced in late February after he suffered a bronchial spasm and inhaled his own vomit.