The Vatican said on Saturday that Pope Francis’ health has deteriorated in the last 24 hours and for the first time described and reported his condition as “critical” that it would have needed additional oxygen and blood transfusions.
In an explanation, the Vatican said that 88-year-old Francis, who has a double pneumonia, had suffered an “extended asthma-like respiratory crisis”.
“The condition of the Holy Father remains critical,” says the explanation. “The Pope is not out of danger.”
The Vatican added: “The Holy Father remains vigilant and spent the day on a chair, even though he is uncomfortable than yesterday. At the moment the forecast remains guarded.”
Francis was approved in the Gemelli Hospital in Rome on February 14 after having difficulty difficulties for a few days. Since then he has diagnosed double pneumonia.
Tourists and residents expressed their creation for Pope Francis’ relaxation on St. Peter’s Square on the Vatican and outside the Agostino Gemelli University policial line in Rome, where the Pope is treated against pneumonia. On Tuesday evening, a group of believers from Bolivia prayed in front of the hospital under a statue of Pope John Paul II.
The Vatican said on Saturday that the doctors would have to give a “high oxygen flow” because of his respiratory crisis. It added that the blood transfusions were necessary because tests showed that he had a platelet number associated with anemia.
The Vatican previously announced that Francis would not appear public on Sunday to lead the prayer with pilgrims, the second week in a row in which he will miss the event.
Double pneumonia is a serious infection that can ignite both lungs and ignite scars, which makes it difficult to breathe. The Vatican described the Pope’s infection as “complex” and said it was caused by two or more microorganisms.
In a briefing on Friday, two of his doctors said that the Pope was very vulnerable due to his age and frailty.
Dr. Sergio Alfieri, a high -ranking employee of the Gemelli team, said there is a risk that lung infection could spread to his bloodstream and develop into sepsis, which “could be very difficult to overcome”.
“Useless speculation”
Francis, who has been head of the Roman Catholic Church since 2013, has suffered pathogens in the past two years. It is particularly susceptible to lung infections because he developed pleuritis as a young adult and removed part of a lung.
The concerns about his health have led at least one cardinal to indicate that Francis could possibly resign if he was unable to continue.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the State Secretary of the Vatican, who is sometimes referred to as deputy Pope, dismissed a conversation like “useless speculation”.
“Now we think about the health of the Holy Father, his recovery and return to the Vatican. These are the only things that are important,” said Parolin in the comments published on Saturday compared to the Corriere della Sera Daily.
