ROME — Following a respiratory issue and blood transfusions, Pope Francis remained conscious on Sunday but was still receiving high levels of supplemental oxygen. The Vatican reported he remains in serious condition with a complicated lung infection.
The Vatican’s initial statement on Sunday did not specify whether Francis had gotten out of bed or eaten breakfast, unlike previous updates. It simply stated, “The night passed quietly, the pope rested.”
Later, the Vatican announced that Francis was awake, continuing to receive supplemental oxygen, and undergoing further clinical evaluations. A more comprehensive medical update was anticipated later that day.
On Saturday, doctors indicated that the 88-year-old Pope, who had a portion of a lung removed in his youth, was in critical condition. This followed a prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis while he was being treated for pneumonia and a complex lung infection.
The Pope was given “high flows” of oxygen via a nasal tube to assist his breathing. He also underwent blood transfusions after tests revealed low platelet counts, which are essential for blood clotting, according to a late Vatican update.
The Saturday statement also noted that the Pontiff “continues to be alert and spent the day in an armchair although in more discomfort than yesterday.” Doctors described his prognosis as “reserved.”
Medical professionals have characterized Francis’s condition as precarious, considering his age, frailty, and pre-existing lung condition. His health situation has sparked renewed discussions about potential scenarios if he were to become incapacitated and whether he might consider resigning.
Prayers for Pope at Vatican
Francis was scheduled to celebrate Mass on Sunday morning at St. Peter’s Basilica and ordain deacons as part of the Vatican’s year-long Holy Year observance.
Archbishop Rino Fisichella, the Holy Year’s organizer, conducted the Mass in his stead, offering a special prayer for Francis from the altar before delivering the Pope’s prepared homily.
“Even though he is in a hospital bed, we feel Pope Francis close to us, we feel him present among us,” Fisichella told the numerous deacons dressed in white. “And this compels us to make even stronger and more intense our prayer that the Lord will assist him in his time of trial and illness.”
A pre-written message from Francis intended for his Sunday noon prayer, which he did not deliver, stated that he was “confidently continuing my hospitalization at the Gemelli Hospital, carrying on with the necessary treatment; and rest is also part of the therapy!” The message also mentioned the approaching anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, “a painful and shameful occasion for the whole of humanity.”
The main threat facing the pope is sepsis
Doctors have cautioned that the most significant risk to Francis is the development of sepsis, a severe blood infection that can arise as a complication of pneumonia. As of Friday, there was no indication of sepsis, and Francis was responding to the medications he was receiving, according to his medical team’s initial comprehensive update on his condition.
Saturday’s blood tests revealed a low platelet count, a condition known as platelopenia or thrombocytopenia. Platelets are cell-like fragments circulating in the blood that aid in forming blood clots to stop bleeding or promote wound healing. The U.S. National Institutes of Health notes that low platelet counts can result from various factors, including medication side effects or infections.
Francis, who has a history of lung disease and is susceptible to bronchitis in the winter, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on February 14 after a week-long bout of worsening bronchitis.
Doctors initially identified a complex viral, bacterial, and fungal respiratory tract infection, followed by the onset of pneumonia in both lungs. They prescribed “absolute rest” and a combination of cortisone and antibiotics, along with supplemental oxygen as needed.
Vatican hierarchy tamps down speculation Francis might resign
Meanwhile, Vatican officials actively downplayed rumors and speculation about Francis potentially resigning. Canon law lacks provisions for handling a situation where a pope becomes incapacitated. Francis has stated that he has prepared a resignation letter to be invoked if he becomes medically incapable of making such a decision.
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin gave a rare interview to Corriere della Sera to address speculation and rumors regarding a possible resignation. This followed an unusual official denial from the Vatican of an Italian media report claiming Parolin and the Pope’s chief canonist had secretly visited Francis in the hospital. Given the canonical requirements for a legitimate resignation, the implications of such a meeting would have been significant, but the Vatican unequivocally denied that any such meeting took place.
Parolin stated that such speculation seemed “useless” when the primary concern should be Francis’s health, recovery, and return to the Vatican.
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