Pope Francis rested and had a ‘tranquil’ night last night after the leader of the Catholic church suffered a respiratory crisis, the Vatican has confirmed.
Doctors revealed last night (Saturday, February 22) Pope Francis was in critical condition after he suffered a long asthmatic respiratory crisis in hospital that morning. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni issued a one-line statement on Sunday morning (February 23), but stopped short of revealing whether Francis, 88, was able to sit up or eat breakfast.
Prior to the alert yesterday the pope, who had part of one lung removed in his youth, was in hospital where he was receiving treatment for pneumonia and a complex lung infection. Francis was given “high flows” of oxygen and blood transfusions after tests showed low counts of platelets, the Vatican said in an update.
Tests also suggested the religious leader had a condition associated with anaemia. “The Holy Father continues to be alert and spent the day in an armchair although in more pain than yesterday. At the moment the prognosis is reserved,” the statement said.
In an update, the Vatican confirmed the pope will not lead Sunday prayers this week for the second week in a row. “The Pope rested well,” the statement added.
Francis’ condition was previously described as touch-and-go given his age and pre-existing lung disease. He was first hospitalised on February 14.
The Vatican confirmed on Tuesday that tests had diagnosed the pope with bilateral pneumonia, and he is also taking cortisone and an antibiotic for asthmatic bronchitis.
A statement said: “Laboratory tests, a chest X-ray, and the Holy Father’s clinical condition continue to present a complex picture.”
Francis’ medical team have stated that the main threat now facing him is if his infection enters the bloodstream, which would cause the serious and potentially fatal condition sepsis.
As of Friday, there was no evidence of this and Francis was said to be responding to treatment. “He is not out of danger,” said his personal physician, Dr Luigi Carbone.
“So like all fragile patients I say they are always on the golden scale: In other words, it takes very little to become unbalanced.”