Pope Francis spent a quiet night in hospital, the Vatican said on Sunday, a day after confirming that the 88-year-old was in a “critical” condition.
The Holy See had announced late on Saturday that the pope, who had been hospitalised since 14 February, suffered a prolonged respiratory attack and required blood transfusions.“The night passed peacefully, and the pope rested,” the Vatican said in a brief update on Sunday morning.
The Argentine pontiff, who has led the Catholic Church since 2013, was initially admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital with bronchitis, which later developed into double pneumonia.
“The Holy Father’s condition remains critical; therefore, as explained on Friday, the pope is not out of danger,” the Vatican stated in a medical bulletin on Saturday evening.
“At present, his prognosis remains uncertain.”
Francis remains alert and “spent the day in an armchair, although he was suffering more than the previous day,” the Vatican said.
It reported that on Saturday morning, he had suffered a “prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis, which required the administration of high-flow oxygen.”
Daily blood tests also “revealed thrombocytopenia, associated with anaemia, necessitating blood transfusions,” it added.
