AG百家乐在线官网

Pope in critical condition and receiving blood transfusions after respiratory crisis, Vatican says

The 88-year-old is being treated for double pneumonia and chronic bronchitis and has now spent more than a week in hospital.

Sunday 23 February 2025 07:25, UK

Why you can trust Sky News

Pope Francis is in a critical condition after a "prolonged respiratory crisis" that required a high-flow of oxygen and is "suffering more than yesterday", the Vatican has said.

The 88-year-old has been in hospital for more than a week being treated for double pneumonia and chronic bronchitis.

In an update on Saturday evening, the Vatican said "the Holy Father's condition continues to be critical", adding that this morning he "presented with a prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis" which required the application of high-flow oxygen.

He also had blood transfusions after tests revealed thrombocytopenia, which is associated with anaemia.

"The Holy Father continues to be vigilant and spent the day in an armchair even though he was suffering more than yesterday. At the moment the prognosis is reserved," the Vatican's statement said.

Hugely significant statement - Analysis by Lisa Holland, Sky correspondent, Vatican City

The Vatican has said the prognosis of the Pope's condition is "reserved".

This is hugely significant because it is the first time the Vatican has said that the Pope may not make it through his current health crisis.

Making the statement, a Vatican official looked ashen-faced and emotional and said Saturday had been a "very hard day".

Before that the Pope's medical team told us last Friday he is not out of danger.

The Vatican is a place of procedure and protocol. Through the week Vatican officials have been understandably guarded.

It has been a week where we have seen Pope Francis described as "in good spirits" to now in a critical condition.

Through history, popes have all spent their final hours at the Vatican.

In 12 years this is only the third time the Pope has been missing from the windows of the Vatican on a Sunday to deliver the Catholic prayer, the Angelus.

Pope Francis has traditionally used the Angelus to send a message on global issues.

Today the messages of goodwill are from the world's Catholics for his recovery.

In an update earlier on Saturday morning - the shortest since Francis was admitted to hospital on 14 February - the Vatican said he will not lead Sunday prayers for the second week running, adding: "The Pope rested well."

Francis is likely to prepare a written homily for someone else to read at Sunday's Angelus.

Millions of people around the world have been concerned about the Pope's increasingly frail health - and his condition has given rise to speculation over a possible resignation, which the Vatican has not commented on.

Doctors on Friday said he was "not out of danger" and was expected to remain at Rome's Gemelli hospital for at least another week.

Sergio Alfieri, the chief of the pontiff's medical team, said: "Is he out of danger? No. But if the question is 'is he in danger of death', the answer is 'no'."

He said Francis was affected by seasonal flu before being taken to hospital and that, "due to his challenging duties", he had suffered fatigue.

He is also fighting a multipronged infection of bacteria and viruses in the respiratory tract.

Read more from Sky News:
Trump says US close to Ukraine minerals deal
Body of Israeli hostage Shiri Bibas returned

The doctors warned that while he did not have sepsis - where germs enter the bloodstream - there was always a risk the infection could spread in his body, and they said that was the biggest concern.

Sepsis is a complication of an infection that can lead to organ failure and death.

Pope Francis has a history of respiratory illness, having lost part of one of his lungs to pleurisy as a young man. He had an acute case of pneumonia in 2023.

Related Topics