ROME (AP) — Pope Francis was in critical condition Saturday after he suffered a long asthmatic respiratory crisis that required high flows of oxygen, the Vatican said.
The 88-year-old Francis, who has been hospitalized for a week with pneumonia and a complex lung infection, also received blood transfusions after tests showed low counts of platelets, which are needed for clotting, associated with anemia, the Vatican said in a late update.
“The Holy Father’s condition continues to be critical, therefore, as explained yesterday (Friday), the Pope is not out of danger,” the statement said. It was the first time “critical” was used, in a written statement, to describe Francis’ condition.
The statement also said that the pontiff “continues to be alert and spent the day in an armchair although in more pain than yesterday. At the moment the prognosis is reserved.”
https://apnews.com/article/pope-fran...efc71fadafa0a4