Abdelrahman
On Sunday morning, the Holy See Press Office reported that Pope Francis enjoyed a restful ninth night at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he is currently receiving treatment for double pneumonia.
By Vatican News
The latest update shared with journalists by the Holy See Press Office confirmed that Pope Francis had a calm night in the hospital as he continues to fight double pneumonia at Gemelli Hospital in Rome.
On Saturday evening, the Press Office released an evening health update concerning the Holy Father’s condition:
The Pope’s health status remains critical; as mentioned previously, he is not yet out of danger. Earlier today, he encountered a significant respiratory crisis reminiscent of asthma, necessitating high-flow oxygen support.
Blood tests conducted today indicated thrombocytopenia linked with anemia, which required blood transfusions.
Despite experiencing increased fatigue compared to yesterday, the Holy Father remains alert and spent some time sitting in an armchair. Currently, the prognosis is stable but cautious.
During a press conference at Gemelli Hospital on Friday afternoon, Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the lead physician overseeing the Pope’s care, along with Dr. Luigi Carbone, Vice-Director of the Vatican’s health service, spoke for approximately forty minutes to a group of reporters.
The doctors indicated that they expect Pope Francis to remain hospitalized for “at least” the next week. While they assured that the Pope is not “in immediate danger of death,” they clarified that he is also not fully “out of danger.”
Dr. Alfieri highlighted that the Pope is not on a ventilator, but he is still experiencing breathing difficulties, limiting his physical activity. Yet, he remains upright in a chair, continuing his work and maintaining his sense of humor. For instance, when greeted by one of his doctors with “Hello, Holy Father,” the Pope cheerfully responded, “Hello, Holy Son.”
When a reporter inquired about their primary concerns, the doctors expressed that there is a potential risk of germs from the Pope’s respiratory system entering his bloodstream, potentially leading to sepsis.
Dr. Alfieri expressed optimism that Pope Francis would eventually leave the hospital and return to Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican, although he cautioned that the Pope’s chronic respiratory challenges would persist.
