Pope Francis remains in critical condition following a severe asthmatic respiratory crisis that required high-flow oxygen therapy, according to a Vatican update released on Saturday. The Vatican stated that the pontiff's condition remains critical and that he is "not out of danger." The Vatican said the prognosis remains "reserved," indicating a cautious outlook as medical teams continue to stabilise his condition. Pope Francis, 88, was admitted to Gemelli Hospital on Feb. 14 for bronchitis. Earlier this week, the Vatican announced he had developed pneumonia in both lungs. This polymicrobial infection developed as a result of bronchiectasis and asthmatic bronchitis, requiring the use of corticosteroids and antibiotics, which, the Vatican noted, complicates treatment. The Vatican's Saturday statement also reported that Francis required the administration of oxygen and a blood transfusion on Saturday morning. The Pope spent the day "alert" and sitting in an armchair, though he was experiencing "more pain than yesterday," according to the Vatican. Pope Francis' condition on Saturday was unexpected given a statement released by the Vatican on Wednesday, which said the Pope was stable and had shown "a slight improvement." The Vatican had added that he was resuming some duties, including a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Meloni issued a statement at the time, describing Francis as "alert and responsive." She added that "We joked as always," and that "He has not lost his proverbial sense of humour," according to a statement released by her office on Wednesday. The Pope's diagnosis of pneumonia, combined with the new development that he needed a blood transfusion, has raised concerns about sepsis, a life-threatening condition where the body's immune system starts attacking otherwise functioning organs, sending them into shock.
Over the past few years, Pope Francis battled several health issues, including the flu and several respiratory problems. He has also undergone multiple surgeries, including in 2021 for a gastrointestinal disease called diverticulitis and another in 2023 for a hernia.
Despite ongoing health concerns, Pope Francis has maintained a public commitment to his role, stating in an autobiography released in January that he would not resign. In the autobiography, he wrote that he was well and that the Church is governed using "the head and the heart, not the legs." Francis's current hospitalisation coincides with the Vatican's celebration of the jubilee, a Holy Year observed every 50 years in the Catholic Church, dedicated to the remission of sins. Francis has led the Catholic Church's more than 1 billion members since 2013, though Saturday's jubilee celebrations proceeded in his absence.
