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Pope Francis remains in a “critical” condition, but “has not presented any further respiratory crises”, the Vatican said in a statement on Sunday.<\/p>\n
He was still receiving high-flow oxygen therapy and had undergone blood transfusions. Blood tests also showed he had “initial, mild, renal insufficiency” – a kidney problem – that is “currently under control”, the statement said.<\/p>\n
The Vatican said he “continues to be alert and well oriented”.<\/p>\n
The Pope was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on 14 February<\/a> after experiencing breathing difficulties for several days, where he was first treated for bronchitis before being diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n On Sunday, the Pope’s thrombocytopenia – a condition that occurs when the platelet count in the blood is too low – was stable, the statement said.<\/p>\n In the morning, the Pope “participated in the Holy Mass, together with those who are taking care of him during these days”, the statement continued.<\/p>\n The Vatican did not offer a prognosis given the “complexity of the clinical picture”.<\/p>\n The new statement comes after the Vatican said on Saturday<\/a> that the Pope had experienced a respiratory crisis and was in a “critical” condition.<\/p>\n Earlier on Sunday, the Pope issued a statement asking Catholics to pray for him<\/a> after he was unable to deliver the traditional Angelus prayer in person for the second week running.<\/p>\n The pontiff is particularly susceptible to pneumonia, an infection of the lungs that can be caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi, after he contracted pleurisy – an inflammation of the lungs – as a young man and underwent a partial lung removal.<\/p>\n The leader of the Roman Catholic church has been admitted to hospital multiple times during his 12-year tenure, including being treated for bronchitis at the same hospital<\/a> in March 2023.<\/p>\n From Argentina, Pope Francis is the first Latin American, and first Jesuit, to lead the Roman Catholic Church.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n