Pope Francis’s health took a turn for the worse after suffering from a long asthmatic respiratory crisis that put him in critical condition, the Vatican said Saturday.
The Pope, 88, is currently hospitalized with a lung infection and received blood transfusions after testing showed a condition associated with anemia, the Vatican disclosed.
“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 Vatican said in an update.
Doctors previously said Pope Francis was battling pneumonia and a complex respiratory infection that will keep him hospitalized for at least the next week. The Vatican said Saturday that the Holy Father slept well overnight as Jubilee Year celebrations continued without him.
“He is not out of danger,” said 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.”
The Pontiff was admitted to the hospital earlier this month after a bout of bronchitis worsened. He is being treated with a combination of rest, cortisone, antibiotics, and supplemental oxygen when necessary. The biggest concern among doctors is the possibility that Pope Francis develops sepsis, a deadly blood infection that can result from pneumonia. At this time, there are no signs of sepsis and the Pope is responding well to the drugs he is taking, the Pontiff’s medical team said Friday.
Pope Francis, who has battled respiratory problems in the past, was said to be improving earlier this week, making the Saturday update somewhat of a surprise. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited the Pope earlier this week and said he was “alert and responsive” and maintained his sense of humor.
“We joked around as always. He has not lost his proverbial sense of humor,” Meloni said after visiting the Holy Father for 20 minutes.
Earlier this week, Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, pushed back against rumors that the Pope could resign because of his health.
“On the other hand, I think it is quite normal that in these situations uncontrolled rumors can spread or some misplaced comment is uttered. It is certainly not the first time it has happened,” Parolin said.
“However, I don’t think there is any particular movement, and so far I haven’t heard anything like that.”
Due to his condition, the Pope will not be delivering his noon blessing Sunday or presiding over a Mass celebrating deacons, Catholic ministers typically on their way to becoming priests. The Mass for Deacons is part of the Catholic year of Jubilee, a special year of forgiveness and hope. In the meantime, Catholics worldwide are expressing well-wishes for the Pope and continue praying for his recovery.