The condition of Pope Francis “is still critical,” said the Vatican on Saturday, saying that the 88 -year -old man was alert but had suffered a respiratory attack that required “high flow oxygen” and also blood transfusions.
“At this time the forecast is reserved,” he said, while the head of the Catholic Church prepared 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 presented 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 continues alert and spent the day in an armchair even if he suffered more than yesterday.”
The Vatican previously confirmed that the Argentine Pontiff would not deliver his weekly prayer of Angelus habitual on Sunday, saying that the text would be published, as it 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, and underwent 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 Corriere della will Daily that such discussion was normal, but said it would not enter into a “useless speculation.”
“Now we are thinking about the health of the Holy Father, his recovery, his return to the Vatican: these are the only things that matter,” said the cardinal.
A group of nuns and priests around the world met today outside the entrance to the Gemelli hospital, where Francis is staying 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 that he recovers well in the grace of God,” said Brazilian priest Don Wellison AFP.
Francis has been moving between his bed, a chair and an adjacent chapel where he prays. He has also been doing a job, says the Vatican.
Professor Sergio Alfieri, who runs the Pope’s medical team in Gemalli, said a day ago that the condition of the pontiff was improving slightly, which allows doctors to reduce the amount of medications that he is taking.
But it made it clear then that the situation was very serious, pointing out 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 you ask him if he is in danger of dying at this time, the answer remains no. “
Francis has said that the papacy is a job for life, but has also left the door open to resign as its predecessor Benedict XVI.
He has often joked about the scheme of his inevitably fast health problems, particularly among those who oppose their reform attempts.
After undergoing colon surgery in 2021, he joked saying that “they were preparing the conclave,” the Cardinals meeting to choose a new Pope after death or resignation.
Much respect
Cardinal Italian Gianfranco Ravasi told him to Corriere A day ago he did not rule out Francis renouncing.
But 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 see an environment prior to confronclave, I don’t see more conversations about a potential successor that a year ago,” he told Argentina’s The nioration daily.
“Until now I perceive a lot of respect.”
The Pope maintains a punishing work schedule, and in September he made 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 suffers constant hip and knee pain, which forces it to use a wheelchair most of the time.
