Pope Francis in critical condition following 'respiratory crisis,' Vatican says
CBC
The Vatican said on Saturday that Pope Francis's health had deteriorated over the past 24 hours and for the first time described his condition as "critical," reporting he had needed supplemental oxygen and blood transfusions.
The Pope was admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital on Feb. 14 after experiencing difficulty breathing for several days, and was subsequently diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs.
In a statement on Saturday evening, the Vatican said the 88-year-old Francis had suffered a "prolonged asthma-like respiratory crisis" during the morning that had required the administration of "high-flow oxygen."
"The Holy Father's condition remains critical," the statement said. "The Pope is not out of danger."
The Vatican added: "The Holy Father remains alert and has spent the day in a chair, though he is more unwell than yesterday. At the moment, the prognosis remains guarded."
Besides the additional oxygen, the Vatican said he had also needed blood transfusions because tests showed he had a low platelet count, associated with anemia.
A U.S.-based doctor said the Gemelli team was probably using the transfusions to raise the Pope's levels of both red blood cells and platelets, which are small cell fragments in the blood that help form clots and stop or prevent bleeding.
Dr. Andrea Vicini, a Jesuit priest and professor at Boston College, stressed that he only knew of the Pope's case through the Vatican's public statements.
"It seems it is under control, but his body is showing signs of difficulty to overcome [the] situation," he said.
The Vatican announced earlier in the day that Francis would not appear in public on Sunday to lead prayer with pilgrims, the second consecutive week he will have missed the event.
It is believed to be the first time he has missed two consecutive Angelus prayers for health reasons. After undergoing intestinal surgery in 2021, he led the Angelus just one week later and skipped one public Sunday prayer in 2023 following another operation.
Double pneumonia is a serious infection that can inflame and scar both lungs, making it difficult to breathe. The Vatican has described the Pope's infection as "complex," saying it is being caused by two or more micro-organisms.
In a briefing on Friday, two of his doctors said the Pope was highly vulnerable due to his age and frailty.
Dr. Sergio Alfieri, a senior member of the Gemelli staff, said there was a risk that the lung infection could spread to his bloodstream and develop into sepsis, which "could be very difficult to overcome."
