The Vatican has announced that Pope Francis is in critical condition after experiencing a severe asthma attack on Saturday, requiring high levels of oxygen. The 88-year-old pontiff has been in the hospital for a week with a complex lung infection, later diagnosed as pneumonia.
In a later update, the Vatican confirmed that Pope Francis also received blood transfusions after tests showed signs of anaemia.
“The Holy Father remains alert and spent the day in an armchair, though he is feeling more pain than yesterday. His prognosis is still uncertain,” the statement said.
Earlier, doctors revealed that the pope is battling both pneumonia and a serious respiratory infection, calling his condition delicate. They confirmed that he will remain in the hospital for at least another week.
Despite his absence, the Vatican continued with its Holy Year celebrations on Saturday.
A brief update earlier mentioned that the pope had a good night’s sleep, but doctors warned that his main concern now is the risk of sepsis, a severe blood infection that could develop as a complication of pneumonia.
