Pope Francis is in a serious condition after suffering a long respiratory crisis due to asthma, requiring high levels of oxygen, the Vatican reported.
The 88-year-old Pope has been in the hospital for a week due to a lung infection. Doctors also gave him blood transfusions after tests showed a condition related to low red blood cell levels.
The Vatican stated that he remains alert but is in more pain than the day before. The prognosis is still uncertain. Earlier, doctors confirmed he is battling pneumonia and a complex infection that will keep him in bed for at least another week.
Despite his absence, the Vatican continued its Holy Year celebrations.
In an update, officials said Francis slept well overnight, but doctors warned of a serious risk: sepsis, a dangerous blood infection that can develop from pneumonia.
As of Friday, doctors said there were no signs of sepsis, and the Pope was responding to treatment. However, his personal physician, Dr. Luigi Carbone, cautioned that his condition remains fragile. “It takes very little for things to become unstable,” he explained.
Pope Francis, who has a history of lung problems, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on February 14 after struggling with bronchitis for a week.
Doctors diagnosed a complex infection affecting both lungs and started him on cortisone, antibiotics, and oxygen support. Despite his illness, Francis insisted on continuing his work at the Vatican.
His medical care has been managed by a team of specialists, including cardiologists and infectious disease experts.
Dr. Sergio Alfieri, a senior doctor at Gemelli hospital, emphasized that the biggest danger is infection spreading to the bloodstream, which could lead to severe complications. “Sepsis is extremely difficult to treat in a patient with his age and condition,” he warned.
Meanwhile, Vatican deacons gathered for a special Jubilee weekend celebration. Francis was supposed to lead the event but had to miss it due to his health.
For the second weekend in a row, Francis is expected to skip his Sunday blessing, which he could have delivered from the hospital if he were well enough.
“Even though he’s not here, he is with us in spirit,” said Luis Arnaldo Lopez Quirindongo, a deacon attending the event.
Doctors say his recovery will take time, and even when he returns to the Vatican, he will still have to manage his chronic lung problems.
“He needs to recover fully, and we all hope he does,” said Alfieri. “But right now, anything is possible.”
