Pope Francis Remains in Critical Condition After Severe Respiratory Crisis

Pope Francis Remains in Critical Condition

Pope Francis remains in critical condition after experiencing a severe asthmatic respiratory crisis on Saturday morning. The Vatican released a statement saying that the Pope's condition is still critical and he is not out of danger.

The Vatican also said that the prognosis for the Pope remains reserved, indicating a cautious outlook as medical teams continue to stabilize his condition. Francis required oxygen therapy and a blood transfusion on Saturday morning. He spent the day alert and sitting in an armchair, although in more pain than the previous day.

Francis, 88, was admitted to Gemelli Hospital on February 14th for bronchitis. Earlier this week, the Vatican announced he had developed pneumonia in both lungs. The polymicrobial infection had arisen in the context of bronchiectasis and asthmatic bronchitis, requiring the use of corticosteroids and antibiotics, which makes the therapeutic treatment more complex.

The Pope's diagnosis of pneumonia, combined with the new development that he needed a blood transfusion, raises concerns about sepsis, a life-threatening condition where the body's immune system starts attacking otherwise functioning organs, sending them into shock.

Francis' condition on Saturday came as somewhat of a surprise after the Vatican released a statement on Wednesday saying the Pope was in stable condition and had shown a slight improvement. The Vatican added that he began returning to some of his duties, including a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Meloni issued a statement that day saying Francis was alert and responsive. "We joked as always," Meloni said in a statement issued by her office on Wednesday. "He has not lost his proverbial sense of humor."

Francis has battled ongoing health issues in recent years, including the flu and various respiratory problems. He has also undergone multiple surgeries, including in 2021 for a gastrointestinal disease called diverticulitis and another in 2023 for a hernia.

Last week, Francis was seen wearing a sling on his arm after falling in his residence. The injury was his second fall in a span of several weeks.

In an autobiography Francis released in January, he downplayed concerns about his health and vowed that he would not resign. "I am well," he wrote. "The Church is governed using the head and the heart, not the legs."

The Pope's hospitalization comes during the Vatican's celebration of the jubilee, a tradition in the Catholic Church dedicated to the remission of sins that occurs every 50 years. The celebration, also known as the Holy Year, proceeded on Saturday without Francis.

Francis has led the Catholic Church's more than 1 billion members since 2013.