Pope Francis has had a “tranquil” night in hospital following blood transfusions after tests revealed a condition associated with anemia, the Vatican has shared.
Newsweek has reached out to the Vatican via email for further information.
Why It Matters
Francis has been critically ill with double pneumonia and chronic bronchitis after being admitted to hospital on February 14.
On Saturday morning, he also suffered a prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis and received “high flows” of oxygen to help him breathe. The Vatican shared that the pope was “not out of danger” and his condition remains critical.
What To Know
On Sunday, according to The Associated Press, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a one-line statement: “The night passed quietly, the pope rested.”
According to the BBC, the Vatican also said in an update: “The Holy Father continues to be alert and spent the day in an armchair, even if he was suffering more than yesterday.”
In previous announcements since the 88-year-old was admitted to hospital, the Vatican has shared whether the pope had gotten up or had breakfast alongside other updates. However, on this occasion, this information was not disclosed, Sky News reported.
He received the blood transfusion after tests showed depleted counts of platelets in his body, the AP reported.
Platelets are cell-like fragments that circulate in the blood and help form clots to stop bleeding or help wounds heal.
Low platelet counts can be caused by a number of things, including side effects from medicines or infections, according to the AP, which cited the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
The pope is being treated in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. He has experienced various health complications in recent years, including hospitalization for bronchitis in 2023. He had part of one lung removed as a young man.
According to Vatican News, on late Friday afternoon, Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the head of the team taking care of the pope, and Dr. Luigi Carbone, the vice director of the Vatican’s health-care service, said they believed Francis would be hospitalized for “at least” the entirety of next week, and that while he was not “in danger of death,” he was also not fully “out of danger.”
The doctors’ greatest concern over the pope’s health is whether he could face an onset of sepsis, a serious infection of the blood that can occur as a complication of pneumonia, the AP reported.
What People Are Saying
The press office of the Vatican shared the following statement on Saturday night, according to Vatican News: “The condition of the Holy Father continues to be critical. Therefore, as explained yesterday, the pope is not out of danger. This morning, Pope Francis experienced an asthma-like respiratory crisis of prolonged intensity, which required the administration of high-flow oxygen.
“Today’s blood tests also revealed thrombocytopenia, associated with anemia, which required the administration of blood transfusions.
“The Holy Father remains alert and spent the day in an armchair, although he is more fatigued than yesterday. At the moment, the prognosis remains guarded.”
What Happens Next
The pope’s condition will continue to be monitored closely over the coming days.
As Francis remains under the care of medical professionals, key decisions and public engagements will be handled by senior Vatican officials.
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