Pope ‘remains critical’, but no new respiratory crisis: Vatican

The Vatican says Pope Francis took part in mass on Sunday morning in his papal suite in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. Photo / AFP

• Pope Francis remains in a critical condition, but has not had another respiratory attack.
• He is alert, receiving high-flow oxygen and his blood platelet count is stable.
• The pope participated in mass at the hospital, but his prognosis remains reserved.

Pope Francis’ condition “remains critical”, but the 88-year-old has not had another respiratory attack, the Vatican said on Sunday, declining again to give a prognosis.

The Argentine pontiff is alert and continues to receive “high-flow oxygen” through a nasal cannula, the Holy See said in its regular early-evening update.

“The Holy Father’s condition remains critical; however, since yesterday evening he has not presented any further respiratory crises,” it said.

Francis was given two units of concentrated red blood cells and his thrombocytopenia “has remained stable”, it said.

Balloons attached to the statue of John Paul II in Rome outside the Gemelli Hospital where Pope Francis is battling a respiratory illness. Photo / AFP

Thrombocytopenia is a condition that occurs when the platelet count in the blood is too low, which can cause trouble stopping bleeding.

“However, some blood tests demonstrate an initial, mild renal failure, currently under control,” the statement said.

“The complexity of the clinical picture and the need to wait for the pharmacological treatments to have some feedback mean that the prognosis remains reserved.”

The Vatican said the pope took part in mass on Sunday morning in his papal suite on the 10th floor of Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, alongside those looking after him.

Francis, who has been head of the worldwide Catholic Church since 2013, was admitted on February 14.

He was initially diagnosed with bronchitis but it developed into double pneumonia, and on Saturday the Pope suffered a prolonged respiratory attack.

- Agence France-Presse