THE Pope has warned aides he may not survive the illness he is battling in hospital and is preparing his legacy, according to reports.

Two people close to the Pontiff claimed Francis, 88, told them he “might not make it this time”, according to a report by Politico.

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Pope Francis, 88, has been in hospital since Friday[/caption]

AFP

He has told close aides he fears he will not survive his current bout of illness[/caption]

AFP

Pope Francis overseeing a mass earlier this month[/caption]

Pope Francis was rushed to hospital last Friday, where he has since been diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs.

Despite the Vatican previously saying Francis’s condition was stable, the new reports suggest he fears he will soon die and is “tying up loose ends” ahead of his successor.

Two aides have reportedly said the Pope is suffering with intense pain and is now completely at the mercy of “doctors’ orders”.

He is also said to be distressed after being barred from delivering his regular morning Angelus sermon, which he has rarely missed – even when hospitalised.

Pope Francis was admitted to a special ward at Rome’s Gemelli hospital on February 14, after suffering for a week with bronchitis.

He was reportedly reluctant to go in, but agreed after doctors told him “in no uncertain terms he was at risk of dying” if he stayed at the Vatican.

Then, the Vatican warned on Monday that a longer hospital stay was needed in the face of a “complex clinical picture” which involved a “polymicrobial infection of the respiratory tract”.

They later offered hope to Catholics around the world by saying the Pope’s condition was “stable”, and that he did not have a fever.

But all of the Pope’s engagements have now been cancelled, and it seems he is not optimistic after the double-lung pneumonia was confirmed.

A statement issued by the Vatican yesterday read: “The chest CT scan that the Holy Father underwent this afternoon […] demonstrated the onset of bilateral pneumonia that required further pharmacological therapy.”

They added that Francis’ respiratory infection also involved asthmatic bronchitis, which required the use of an extensive antibiotic treatment.

The Pope had part of his lung removed years ago, meaning he is particularly vulnerable to pulmonary conditions.

Expert Italian pulmonologist Barbara Moscatelli told the National Catholic Reporter that the condition is “neither easy to define or to manage”.

However, even yesterday the Pope was said to be in good spirits and grateful for all the prayers for his speedy recovery.

As his health has deteriorated, Francis has moved to complete initiatives whilst he still can, and appoint certain figures to key posts who, he hopes, will continue his mission for progressive reform of the Church.

One source told Politico that Pope tactically extended the term of one figure – Giovanni Battista Re – as dean of the College of Cardinals, before being admitted to hospital.

This is the role that will oversee the Conclave, when the next Pope is selected.

Francis’s intervention was apparently controversial as it bypassed a scheduled vote on the position in order to ensure the voting process plays out as he wants.

Re is too old to vote, but insiders said he would be able to influence the lobbying that goes on during the secret discussions in the Sistine Chapel.

A source told Politico: “The run-up to the conclave is more important as that’s where lobbying goes on.”

Since being elected in 2013, Francis has strived to make the Church more inclusive by opening up key roles to women and people from the LGBT community.

His vision has provoked a furious reaction from more conservative Catholics, whilst some at the other end of the spectrum complained progress has not been fast enough.

Francis has also tried to address the deeply-rooted disease of child abuse that runs through the Church, but progress in this plight has been mixed.