Pope Francis Remains Critical After Asthmatic Respiratory Crisis, Says Vatican

Pope Francis' health has deteriorated and his condition is now critical. He is receiving oxygen and blood transfusions.

Pope Francis was in critical condition on Saturday (File photo)

Source : Getty

The Vatican on Saturday said that Pope Francis' health had deteriorated and his condition is been described as critical.

The 88-year-old, who remained conscious, received supplemental oxygen to help him breathe. He also received blood transfusions after tests showed low counts of platelets, which are needed for clotting, the Vatican said in a update, AP reported.

"This morning Pope Francis presented a prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis, which also required the application of high-flow oxygen. Daily blood tests showed thrombocytopenia, associated with anaemia, which required the administration of blood transfusions", the statement said. "The Holy Father continues to be alert and spent the day in an armchair even if he was suffering more than yesterday", it added. Doctors declined to offer a prognosis, saying it was 'reserved'.

"Pope Francis condition continues to be critical, therefore, as explained yesterday (Friday), the pope is not out of danger", the statement said. This is the first time 'critical' had been used in a written statement to describe Francis' condition since he was hospitalized on February 14.

Statement from the Holy See Press Office pic.twitter.com/VKKJFfMcgR

— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) February 22, 2025

The Vatican earlier confirmed the Argentine pontiff would not deliver his usual weekly Angelus prayer on Sunday, saying the text would be published, as it was last weekend.

The Vatican hierarchy went on the defensive to tamp down rumors and speculation that Francis might decide to resign. There is no provision in canon law for what to do if a pope becomes incapacitated. Francis has said that he has written a letter of resignation that would be invoked if he were medically incapable of making such a decision. The pope remains fully conscious, alert, eating and working.

Francis, who has been pope since 2013, has suffered bouts of ill health in the past two years. He is particularly prone to lung infections because he developed pleurisy as a young adult and had part of one lung removed, according to Reuters.