Pope Francis’s condition “remains critical,” the Vatican confirmed on Saturday, stating that the 88-year-old pontiff was alert but had suffered a respiratory attack requiring “high-flow oxygen” and blood transfusions.
“At the moment, the prognosis is reserved,” the statement read, as the head of the Catholic Church spent his ninth night at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he was diagnosed this week with double pneumonia.
“This morning, Pope Francis experienced a prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis, which required the administration of high-flow oxygen,” it added.
Daily blood tests “revealed thrombocytopenia, associated with anaemia, necessitating blood transfusions,” the statement continued.
Despite his condition, the Vatican reported that Francis remained alert and spent the day sitting in an armchair, though he was in greater discomfort than the previous day.
The Vatican confirmed that the Argentine pontiff would not deliver his usual weekly Angelus prayer on Sunday. Instead, the text would be published, as was done the previous weekend.
Francis has led the Catholic Church since 2013 but has faced numerous health challenges in recent years, undergoing major surgeries in 2021 and 2023. His latest hospitalisation has raised concerns about his ability to continue leading the Church’s 1.4 billion followers, fuelling speculation about a possible resignation and his potential successor.
Professor Sergio Alfieri, head of the Pope’s medical team at Gemelli, said on Friday that the pontiff’s condition had “slightly improved,” allowing doctors to gradually reduce his medication. However, he emphasised the seriousness of the situation given Francis’s age and overall health.
“Is the Pope out of danger? No, the Pope is not out of danger,” Alfieri stated. “But if you ask whether he is at risk of dying at this moment, the answer is no.”
Despite his health struggles, Francis maintains a demanding schedule. However, his medical challenges have mounted, from colon surgery to a hernia operation in 2023. He also suffers from chronic hip and knee pain, requiring him to use a wheelchair most of the time.