Pope Francis Health Update: Pope Francis’s health condition is said to be critical with respiratory and kidney problems but remains stable and is resting, according to the latest update from the Vatican. This comes after a Monday morning statement said, that the Pope had a restful night, the Vatical News reported, quoting the Holy See Press Office.
A BBC report citing Vatican sources said, that the Pope was in good humour and was eating normally, which was slightly more good news than the messages from over the weekend after sudden breathing difficulties were reported in the morning. After suffering breathing difficulties for several days the Pope was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on February 14, where he was first treated for bronchitis before being diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs.
On Sunday, the Pope’s thrombocytopenia—a condition that occurs when there is a low platelet count—was stable, according to an official statement.
The Vatican has yet not offered a prognosis, given the “complexity of the clinical picture”.
At 21:00, local time, on Monday, cardinals present in Rome will gather outside St. Peter’s Basilica to lead prayers for the Pope, joined by members of the Vatican Curia and clergy from the Diocese of Rome.
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They will continue to gather each evening to recite the Rosary. Monday evening’s prayer will be led by Cardinal Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State.
On Saturday, the Vatican said that Pope Francis remains in critical condition with blood tests showing mild signs of kidney failure ‘which is currently under control’.
The pontiff is particularly susceptible to pneumonia—an infection of the lungs caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi—due to a past battle with pleurisy, an inflammation of the lungs. As a young man, he underwent a partial lung removal, making him more susceptible to respiratory infections.
