- Pope not out of danger, the condition remains critical: the Vatican.
- 'Its prolonged asthmatic attack required high flow oxygen'.
- Thrombocytopenia, anemia diagrased in their daily blood tests.
Vatican City: Pope Francis is in critical condition after suffering a severe respiratory attack that required oxygen transfusions and high flow blood, said the Vatican on Saturday, while continuing his treatment for double pneumonia in the Gemelli Hospital in Rome.
“At this time, the forecast is reserved,” he said, while the 88 -year -old boss of the Catholic Church was preparing to spend his ninth night at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome, where he was diagnosed this week with double pneumonia.
“The condition of the Holy Father remains critical; therefore, as explained yesterday, the Pope is not out of danger,” said the Vatican in his regular update of the night.
“This morning, Pope Francis experienced a prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis, which also required the application of high flow oxygen,” he said.
The daily blood tests “showed thrombocytopenia, associated with anemia, which required the administration of blood transfusions,” he added.
“The Holy Father remains alert and spent the day in an armchair, even though he suffered more than yesterday.”
The Vatican previously confirmed that the Argentine pontiff would not deliver his regular Angelus prayer on Sunday, stating that the text would be published, as was last weekend.
Prayers for the Pope
Francis has been head of the Catholic Church since 2013, but has suffered numerous health problems in recent years, undergoing major surgery in 2021 and 2023.
This last hospitalization has questioned its ability to continue as the leader of the almost 1.4 billion Catholics in the world, feeding speculation about their possible resignation and who could take care.
The Secretary of State of the Vatican, Pietro Parolin, said to Corriere Della Sera daily from Italy that such discussions were normal, but said he would not participate in “useless speculations.”
“At this time, we are focused on the health of the Holy Father, his recovery and his return to the Vatican, these are the only things that matter,” said the cardinal.
A group of nuns and priests from around the world met Saturday outside the entrance to the Gemelli hospital, where Francis stays in a special papal suite on the tenth floor, to pray for him.
“We are praying today for the Holy Father, Pope Francis, and our hope is to recover well in the grace of God,” said Brazilian priest Don Wellison to AFP.
Francis has been moving between his bed, a chair and an adjacent chapel where he says, while he also does some work, says the Vatican.
Professor Sergio Alfieri, who runs the Pope's medical team in Gemelli, said Friday that the Pontiff's condition had improved slightly, allowing doctors to increase the amount of medications he was taking.
However, it made it clear that the situation remained very serious, given the age of the pontiff and the general health condition.
“Is the Pope out of danger? No, the Pope is not out of danger,” said Alfieri but added: “If then ask him if he is in danger of dying at this time, the answer remains no.”
Francis has previously stated that the papacy is a job for life, but he has also left the door open to resign, as his predecessor Benedict XVI did.
He has often joked about the scheme that his inevitably fast health problems, particularly among those who oppose their attempts for reform.
After undergoing colon surgery in 2021, he joked that “they were preparing the conclave,” the Cardinals meeting to choose a new Pope after a death or resignation.
Much respect
Cardinal Italian Gianfranco Ravasi told Corriere on Friday that he did not rule out Francis resigning.
However, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, who leads the powerful Dicastery of the Holy See for the Doctrine of Faith, said he had not heard any particular maneuver this time.
“I don't feel an environment prior to confronclave; I see no more discussions about a potential successor that a year ago,” he told the Daily Nation of Argentina.
“Until now, I perceive a lot of respect.”
The Pope maintains a punishing work schedule and, in September, embarked on a 12-day tour of Asia-Pacific.
However, he has suffered growing health problems, from his colon surgery to a hernia operation in 2023.
It also has overweight and experiences constant hip and knee pain, which forces it to use a wheelchair most of the time.
