Vatican City, February 23: Pope Francis, who has been hospitalized for over a week, recently experienced an intense asthma-like respiratory crisis, which required high-flow oxygen, according to Vatican News. The Pope has been receiving treatment for double pneumonia at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.
Vatican News reported that Pope Francis had a peaceful ninth night at the hospital, but his condition remains critical. On Saturday evening, an update stated that he was not out of danger, following an asthma-like respiratory crisis earlier that morning. This prolonged episode required the administration of high-flow oxygen.
Blood tests conducted on Sunday revealed thrombocytopenia and anemia, which prompted blood transfusions. Despite this, the Pope remains alert and spent the day in an armchair, though he is experiencing more fatigue than the previous day. His prognosis remains guarded.
At a press conference on Friday afternoon, Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the lead doctor attending to the Pope, and Dr. Luigi Carbone, the Vice Director of the Vatican’s healthcare service, confirmed that the Pope would remain hospitalized for at least another week. They reassured the public that while the Pope is not in immediate danger of death, he is still not fully out of danger.
Dr. Alfieri emphasized that the Pope is not on a ventilator but continues to struggle with breathing, limiting his physical activity. He described Pope Francis as sitting upright in a chair, working, and joking with staff. When greeted by a doctor with “Hello, Holy Father,” the Pope humorously replied, “Hello, Holy Son.”
The doctors also expressed concerns about the potential risk of germs in the Pope’s respiratory tract entering his bloodstream, which could lead to sepsis. However, Dr. Alfieri expressed confidence that Pope Francis would eventually leave the hospital and return to Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican, though his chronic respiratory issues are expected to remain.( With ANI Input)
