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Pope Francis, battling double pneumonia in hospital, has had a "tranquil" night and rested, the Vatican says. or signup to continue reading The Pope was admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital on February 14 after experiencing difficulty breathing for several days and subsequently had pneumonia diagnosed in both lungs. The Vatican described his condition as critical for the first time on Saturday, reporting that he had needed supplemental oxygen and blood transfusions that day.
"The night was tranquil. The Pope rested," the Vatican said in its latest update on Sunday. 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 microorganisms. Francis, who has been Pope since 2013, has suffered bouts of ill health in the past two years. He is particularly prone to lung infections because he developed pleurisy as a young adult and had part of one lung removed.
In a statement on Saturday, the Vatican said the 88-year-old Francis had suffered a "prolonged asthma-like respiratory crisis" and his condition had worsened. "The Holy Father's condition remains critical," the Vatican said on Saturday. "The Pope is not out of danger.
"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." The Vatican said on Saturday doctors had to administer a "high flow" of oxygen because of the Pope's breathing crisis.
It said the blood transfusions were necessary because tests showed the Pope had a low platelet count, associated with anaemia. In a briefing on Friday, two of his doctors said the Pope was highly vulnerable due to his age and frailty. The Vatican announced earlier on Saturday that Francis would not appear in public on Sunday to lead prayer with pilgrims, the second consecutive week he missed the event.
Dr Sergio Alfieri, a senior member of the Gemelli staff, said there was a risk the lung infection could spread to his bloodstream and develop into sepsis, which "could be very difficult to overcome". Concerns over the Pope's health have led at least one cardinal to suggest Francis might resign. Vatican secretary of state Cardinal Pietro Parolin, sometimes referred to as "the deputy Pope", dismissed such talk as "useless speculation".
"Now we are thinking about the Holy Father's health, his recovery, and his return to the Vatican," Parolin told the Corriere della Sera daily in comments published on Saturday. "These are the only things that matter," DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation.
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