The Vatican said on Saturday that Pope Francis health had deteriorated over the past 24 hours and for the first time described his condition as “critical,” reporting he had needed supplemental oxygen and blood transfusions.
Newsroom (22/02/2025 Gaudium Press ) The Vatican said on Saturday that Pope Francis’s health had deteriorated over the past 24 hours and for the first time described his condition as “critical,” reporting he had needed supplemental oxygen and blood transfusions.
The 88-year-old pontiff “experienced an asthma-like respiratory crisis of prolonged intensity” Saturday morning that required the administration of high-flow oxygen, according to the Vatican’s medical update.
Pope Francis Health
Blood tests revealed a low platelet count (thrombocytopenia), associated with anemia, which required blood transfusions.
The Vatican announced earlier in the day that Francis would not appear in public on Sunday to lead prayer with pilgrims, the second consecutive week he will have missed the event.
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 micro-organisms.
In a briefing on Friday, two of his doctors said the Pope was highly vulnerable due to his age and frailty. They have warned that the main threat facing Francis would be the onset of sepsis, a serious infection of the blood that can occur as a complication of pneumonia – and can lead to organ failure and death.
Compiled by Raju Hasmukh
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