Amidst Global Prayers, Pope Francis Still In Critical Condition After ‘Mild’ Kidney Failure
As global prayers continue to be offered, the health status of Pope Francis remains critical; however, recent reports indicate that he has not experienced any additional respiratory crises. This information was shared in a statement from the Vatican on Sunday.
The 88-year-old leader of the Catholic Church was reported to be in critical condition on Saturday after a week-long hospitalization due to a lung infection. The Vatican noted earlier that Saturday that the night had passed quietly and that the pope was resting, as reported by the Associated Press. It was also mentioned that Pope Francis is conscious and that further tests are ongoing.
Currently, the pope is receiving supplemental oxygen, and tests have revealed “initial, mild” kidney failure. Nevertheless, the Vatican stated that the situation is under control, and the pope is alert and “well-oriented.”
The Vatican indicated that the pope’s “prognosis remains reserved,” as quoted by the Associated Press, refraining from making predictions regarding his potential recovery due to “the complexity of the clinical picture and the necessary wait for drug therapies to yield results.”
Additionally, Pope Francis has undergone blood transfusions following tests that suggested a condition related to anemia, according to the Associated Press, and doctors anticipate that he will remain hospitalized for at least another week. The pope’s medical team previously stated on Friday that while his condition is not life-threatening, he is “not out of danger.”
On Sunday, the Vatican released an Angelus statement from Pope Francis, in which he reflected on the impending third anniversary of the war in Ukraine and expressed gratitude for the public’s supportive messages regarding his hospitalization, urging people to “pray for me.” “I am confidently continuing my hospitalization at the Gemelli Hospital, undergoing the necessary treatment; rest is also part of the therapy!” Pope Francis stated, as translated by the Vatican. “I sincerely thank the doctors and health workers of this hospital for their attentive care and the dedication with which they carry out their duties.”
Pope Francis, aged 88, has served as the leader of the church for 12 years following his election in 2013. In recent years, he has been hospitalized on multiple occasions, including a stay in July 2021 due to a narrowing of his large intestine and another hospitalization in 2023 for bronchitis. He suffers from chronic bronchitis and has a history of respiratory problems.
