Pope Francis is in Critical Condition—Vatican Issues Grim Update [WATCH]

Pope Francis remains in critical condition after suffering an “asthmatic respiratory crisis” on Saturday, according to an official statement from the Vatican.

The 88-year-old pontiff, who has been hospitalized for more than a week, was diagnosed with pneumonia last Thursday and has since received blood transfusions due to anemia-related complications.

A Vatican statement on Sunday confirmed that Pope Francis experienced “an asthmatic respiratory crisis of prolonged magnitude,” requiring high-flow oxygen treatment.

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Despite the worsening condition, the pope remained alert and spent the day sitting in an armchair, though he was reportedly “in more pain than yesterday.”

The pope was initially admitted to a Rome clinic on February 14 after experiencing respiratory difficulties.

After undergoing a series of medical tests, doctors diagnosed him with a severe lung infection, later confirmed as pneumonia.

Due to his condition, the Vatican announced Saturday that he would be unable to deliver the weekly Angelus prayer, marking only the third time in his 12-year papacy that he has missed the event.

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Medical professionals monitoring the pope have expressed cautious optimism but acknowledge the severity of his condition.

“Is the pope out of danger? No. Both doors are open. Is he at risk of immediate death? No. The therapy needs time to work,” said Dr. Sergio Alfieri, a surgeon who previously operated on Pope Francis.

Pope Francis remains particularly vulnerable to respiratory illnesses due to a severe bout of pneumonia he suffered as a young man, which resulted in the removal of one of his lungs.

In 2023, he was hospitalized with bronchitis, and in recent months, he has suffered two falls that required him to wear a sling.

Doctors have advised the pope to cancel all public appearances and focus on recovery. This latest hospitalization is the first since his papacy began in 2013.

One of the most significant risks the pope faces is sepsis, a life-threatening blood infection that can develop as a complication of pneumonia.

However, as of Friday, there were no signs of sepsis, and the pope was responding to treatment.

“He is not out of danger,” said his physician, Dr. Luigi Carbone.

“So like all fragile patients, I say they are always on the golden scale: In other words, it takes very little to become unbalanced.”

Alfieri emphasized the seriousness of the situation. “Sepsis, with his respiratory problems and his age, would be really difficult to get out of,” he told reporters at Gemelli Hospital on Friday.

He added that Francis is aware of the risks. “He knows he’s in danger. And he told us to relay that.”

Despite his hospitalization, Pope Francis has continued to work. In the initial days of his stay, he maintained his routine calls with Rev. Gabriel Romanelli and Father Yusuf Asad in Gaza City, with whom he has remained in frequent contact since the war in Gaza began following the October 7, 2023, attacks in southern Israel.

Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni also confirmed that the pope has been reviewing and approving decisions from his hospital room.

For now, only a select few visitors have been allowed to see the pope, according to Vatican officials.

One notable visitor was Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who spent 20 minutes with the pontiff on Wednesday.

“We joked as always. He hasn’t lost his proverbial sense of humor,” Meloni said in a statement following the meeting.

Doctors continue to monitor the pope closely, with no indication yet on when he may be discharged.

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