Pope Francis’ condition remains “critical” following a “prolonged asthma-like respiratory crisis” early Saturday, according to the Vatican.
The pontiff is “more unwell than yesterday” and has required blood transfusions, according to the statement.
According to the Vatican, the 88-year-old was conscious and in his armchair, but required a “high flow” of oxygen, and his prognosis “remains guarded.”.
The Pope is receiving treatment for pneumonia in both lungs at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.
The Vatican stated that the blood transfusions were necessary due to a low platelet count, which is connected with anemia.
“The Holy Father’s condition remains critical,” a statement said. “The Pope is not out of danger.”
“The Holy Father continues to be alert and spent the day in an armchair even if he was suffering more than yesterday,” the statement added.
The Pope has requested transparency about his health; thus, the Vatican has begun issuing daily announcements.
The tone and duration of the announcements have varied, allowing Pope-watchers to try to read between the lines.
But this is by far the worst review yet, and it is extraordinarily extensive. It declines to provide any prognosis.
It comes just one day after medics treating the Pope revealed for the first time that he was responding to treatment, despite the fact that his condition was complex.
They stated on Friday that even the slightest shift in circumstances would disrupt what they referred to as a “delicate balance.”.
“He is the Pope,” as one of them put it. “But he is also a man.”
The Pope was first admitted to the hospital on 14 February after having difficulty breathing for many days.
He is especially vulnerable to lung infections because he developed pleurisy—an inflammation around the lungs—as an adult and had a portion of one of his lungs removed at the age of 21.
During his 12 years as head of the Roman Catholic Church, the Argentine has been hospitalized multiple times, including in March 2023, when he spent three nights in the hospital with bronchitis.
The recent news will concern Catholics around the world, who are keenly watching developments regarding the Pope’s condition.
It is a busy Jubilee year for the Catholic Church, with a large number of tourists expected in Rome and a full calendar of festivities for the Pope.
He isn’t known for enjoying inactivity. Even in the hospital, his physicians claim he went to pray at the chapel this week and was reading in his chair.
However, even before the recent setback, the Vatican had stated that Francis would not appear in public to lead prayer with pilgrims on Sunday, which means he will miss the event for the second week in a row.
Throughout the week, people have left candles, flowers, and letters for the Pope outside Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.
On Saturday evening, there was no change outside St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. It is a busy Jubilee year for the Catholic Church, with a large number of tourists expected in Rome and a full calendar of festivities for the Pope.
However, people passing through the square said they were following the news.
“We feel very close to the Pope, here in Rome,” one Italian man told the BBC. “We saw the latest, and we are worried.”
