The prognosis for the 88-year-old pope, who required a transfusion of two units of blood on Saturday after experiencing a “prolonged asthma-like respiratory crisis,“ remains “guarded”, according to the latest medical update.
“The condition of the Holy Father remains critical; however, since last night he has not experienced further respiratory crises,“ the Vatican said on Sunday.
“The complexity of the clinical picture, and the necessary wait for the pharmacological therapies to show some effect, require that the prognosis remains guarded,“ said the statement.
Double pneumonia is a serious infection that can inflame and scar both lungs, making it difficult to breathe. The Vatican has described the pope’s infection as “complex”, saying it is being caused by two or more microorganisms.
The Vatican said on Saturday the pope had needed the blood transfusions because tests showed he had a low platelet count, which is associated with anaemia. Platelets are cell fragments in the blood that form clots and stop or prevent bleeding.
It also said his platelet levels had remained stable.
Near the Vatican, pilgrims expressed concern for the pope.
Matteo Licari, from Sardinia, said he was “extremely worried”. “Let’s hope he can keep living,“ said Licari. “We are waiting for him to come back here.”
People left flowers and notes for Francis, and lit candles at the base of the late pope's memorial.
Archbishop Rino Fisichella, a senior Vatican official, told participants at a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Sunday morning they should make their prayers for Francis “stronger and more intense”.
On Friday, two of his doctors said the pope was highly vulnerable because of his age and general frailty.
Dr. Sergio Alfieri, a senior member of the Gemelli staff, said there was a risk the lung infection could spread to his bloodstream and develop into sepsis, which “could be very difficult to overcome”. (Reporting by Joshua McElwee and Crispian Balmer, additional reporting by Claudia Chieppa Editing by David Goodman, William Maclean, Tomasz Janowski and Giles Elgood)
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