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Pope Francis had ‘restful night’, Vatican says, morning after respiratory crisis Pope Francis had ‘restful night’, Vatican says, morning after respiratory crisis
(about 11 hours later)
Pontiff had fallen into critical condition, receiving high flows of oxygen and blood transfusions in hospital as he battles complex lung infectionPontiff had fallen into critical condition, receiving high flows of oxygen and blood transfusions in hospital as he battles complex lung infection
Pope Francis had a “restful night” in hospital, the Vatican said on Sunday morning, after announcing on Saturday that he was in critical condition following a prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis linked to pneumonia and a complex lung infection. Pope Francis, who is in a critical condition with pneumonia and a complex lung infection, had a “restful night” in hospital, the Vatican said on Sunday.
The 88-year-old pope received “high flows” of oxygen to help him breathe, it was announced on Saturday. He also received blood transfusions after tests showed low counts of platelets, which are needed for clotting, the Vatican said in a late update. Spokesperson Matteo Bruni’s one-line statement on Sunday morning did not mention whether Francis was up or eating breakfast.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni’s one-line statement on Sunday morning did not mention whether Francis was up or eating breakfast. The 88-year-old pope has received “high flows” of oxygen to help him breathe. The Vatican described his condition on Saturday as “critical” after he suffered a prolonged asthma-style attack and required blood transfusions for a low platelet count.
The pope has been hospitalised for a week with a complex lung infection. The statement on Saturday said the “Holy Father continues to be alert and spent the day in an armchair although in more pain than yesterday. At the moment the prognosis is reserved.” The pope has been at the Gemelli hospital in Rome for a week with a complex lung infection.
Earlier, doctors said his health remained touch and go and he was expected to remain in hospital for at least another week. Earlier, doctors said his health remained touch and go and he was expected to remain in hospital for at least another week.
They warned that the main threat facing the pope would be the onset of sepsis, a serious infection of the blood that can occur as a complication of pneumonia.They warned that the main threat facing the pope would be the onset of sepsis, a serious infection of the blood that can occur as a complication of pneumonia.
As of Friday, there was no evidence of any sepsis, and Francis was responding to the various drugs he was taking, the pope’s medical team said. Saturday’s blood tests showed that he had developed a low platelet count, a condition known as thrombocytopenia. Platelets are cell-like fragments that circulate in the blood that help form blood clots to stop bleeding or help wounds heal.
Saturday’s blood tests showed that he had developed a low platelet count, a condition thrombocytopenia. Platelets are cell-like fragments that circulate in the blood that help form blood clots to stop bleeding or help wounds heal. Archbishop Rino Fisichella, a senior Vatican official, told participants at a mass in St Peter’s Basilica on Sunday morning they should make their prayers for Francis “stronger and more intense”.
Low platelet counts can be caused by a number of things, including side effects from medicines or infections, according to the US National Institutes of Health. In a message published in lieu of his weekly Sunday Angelus prayer, which he normally delivers from a window overlooking St Peter’s Square, Francis thanked medical staff.
Francis, who has chronic lung disease, was admitted to Gemelli hospital in Rome on 14 February after a week-long bout of bronchitis worsened. “I am confidently continuing my hospitalisation at the Gemelli hospital, carrying on with the necessary treatment – and rest is also part of the therapy!” he said.
Doctors first diagnosed the complex viral, bacterial and fungal respiratory tract infection and then the onset of pneumonia in both lungs. “I ask you to pray for me,” he concluded in the message that was written in “recent days”.
They prescribed “absolute rest” and a combination of cortisone and antibiotics, along with supplemental oxygen when he needs it. Francis, who has been head of the Catholic church since 2013, was initially admitted to the Gemelli – which has a special suite for popes – on 14 February with bronchitis.
Dr Sergio Alfieri, the head of medicine and surgery at Gemelli hospital, said: “He knows he’s in danger,” Alfieri added. “And he told us to relay that.” Doctors first diagnosed the complex viral, bacterial and fungal respiratory tract infection and then the onset of pneumonia in both lungs.
They prescribed “absolute rest” and a combination of cortisone and antibiotics, along with supplemental oxygen when needed.
In its evening update on Saturday, the Vatican said the pope had suffered a difficult day and his “condition continues to be critical, therefore … the pope is not out of danger”.
Dr Sergio Alfieri, the head of medicine and surgery at Gemelli hospital, said: “He knows he’s in danger, and he told us to relay that.”
“The pope gets worse,” headlined Italy’s Corriere della Sera newspaper on Sunday, while La Repubblica described it as the “darkest day” at the Vatican.
Francis has said the papacy is a job for life, but has also left the door open to resigning like his predecessor. The late Benedict XVI became the first pope to resign in almost 600 years, citing his advanced age and deteriorating strength.
The Vatican hierarchy tried to tamp down speculation that the pope might decide to resign. There is no provision in canon law for what to do if a pope becomes incapacitated.The Vatican hierarchy tried to tamp down speculation that the pope 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 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 Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, gave a rare interview to Corriere della Sera to respond to rumours about a possible resignation. The Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, gave a rare interview to Corriere della Sera to respond to rumours about a possible resignation after the Vatican issued an unusual and official denial of an Italian media report that said Parolin and the pope’s chief canonist had visited Francis in the hospital in secret.
It came after the Vatican issued an unusual and official denial of an Italian media report that said Parolin and the pope’s chief canonist had visited Francis in the hospital in secret. Given the canonical requirements to make a resignation legitimate, the implications of such a meeting were significant, but the Vatican denied that any such meeting occurred.
Given the canonical requirements to make a resignation legitimate, the implications of such a meeting were significant, but the Vatican flat out denied that any such meeting occurred. Parolin said such speculation seemed “useless” when what really mattered was the health of the pope, his recovery and return to the Vatican.
Parolin said such speculation seemed “useless” when what really mattered was the health of the pope, his recovery and return to the Vatican. The 88-year-old pope has maintained a punishing work schedule, despite increasing health issues. Last September, he carried out a mammoth 12-day tour to the Asia Pacific, one of the few places in the world where the Catholic church is growing in terms of baptised faithful and religious vocations.
“On the other hand, I think it is quite normal that in these situations uncontrolled rumours can spread or some misplaced comment is uttered. It is certainly not the first time it has happened,” Parolin was quoted as saying. Associated Press, AFP and Reuters contributed to this report
“However, I don’t think there is any particular movement, and so far I haven’t heard anything like that.”