Pope Francis, in a “critical” state for bilateral pneumonia, “A quiet night spent” at the hospital, The Vatican reported Sunday and continues its “with confidence” treatment.
“I continue with confidence my hospitalization (…) Continuing with the necessary treatments; and rest is also part of the therapy!”, Said the Argentine pontiff, 88, In a written message in recent days for the Prayer of the Sunday Angelus.
“I ask you to pray for me”, concluded.
The Holy See reported lately the alarming news that Jorge Bergoglio, hospitalized since February 14, had suffered a prolonged asthmatic crisis, which required the application of oxygen.
On Sunday morning, the Holy See indicated in a brief statement that Francisco “A quiet night spent and rested.”
Vatican sources indicated that The statement evidence that the crisis on Saturday was not repeated, although the Pope continues to receive oxygen through a cannula.
In addition, contrary to his custom, did not have breakfast or read the newspapers this Sundaythese sources pointed out.
“Suffering more”
The Argentine Jesuit, head of the Catholic Church since 2013, was admitted to the Gemelli Hospital in Rome With bronchitis, which resulted in bilateral pneumonia.
The Vatican said Saturday afternoon that “the state of the Holy Father It is still critical and, therefore, (…) is not out of danger. “
Francisco “remains alert and spent the day in an armchair, Although he is suffering more “than the day before, said the Holy See.
In addition to asthmatic crisis, blood tests “also revealed a thrombocytopenia (hematological problems), associated with an anemia, which required the administration of a blood transfusion, “he added.
Thrombocytopenia is a condition that It occurs when the count of platelets in a person’s blood is too low, which can cause problems to stop bleeding, and can be potentially deadly.
“The Pope gets worse,” the Italian newspaper titled on Sunday morning Corriere della will, while The repubblica He referred to the “darkest day” for the Vatican.
“The situation is increasingly worrying,” said Fabrizio Pregliasco, an outstanding Italian virologist, to the newspaper The Stampa, adding that “the next hours and days will be crucial.”
Prayers for the Pope
Cardinal Italian Baldo Reina, Vicar of the Pope for the Diocese of Rome, announced that On Sunday afternoon a prayer dedicated to the Holy Father will be held in the Basilica of San Juan de Letán so that “the Lord (…) fill you with the necessary force to overcome this moment of proof.”
“Even if you are in the bed of a hospital, we feel it close to us,” Rino Fisichella said Monsignor, which replaced the Pope in a ceremony on Sunday morning in the Basilica of San Pedro.
Other religious and political leaders have said they are praying for the Pope, Including the president of the United States, Donald Trump, which has been “informed” of the situation, according to the White House.
A group of nuns and priests around the world They congregated on Saturday in front of the hospital entrance to Pray for the health of the Pontiff.
“We are praying today for the Holy Father, Pope Francis, And we hope he will recover by the grace of God “, The Brazilian priest Don Wellison told AFP.
Francisco has said that the papacy is a work for a lifetime, But he has also left the door open to give up as his predecessor Benedict XVI.
The German theologian became 2013 In the first Pope from the Middle Ages to voluntarily resign, Due to health problems.
Francisco has repeatedly said that His time has not yet resigned, But their health problems have raised doubts about their ability to lead the almost 1,400 million Catholics in the world.
Nevertheless, The Pope has maintained in recent years a frantétic agendaOh in September he made a 12-day tour of Asia-Pacific.
However, your health has weakened by a series of problems in recent years, From a colon operation in July 2021 to a hernia operation in 2023.
It also suffers constant hip and knee pain, that force him to use a wheelchair most of the time.