Chicago – February 22, 2025
Pope Francis, 88, is in critical condition after suffering a serious breathing crisis while being treated for pneumonia, the Vatican said Saturday.
Doctors are giving him “high flows” of oxygen to help him breathe and have also given him blood transfusions because his platelet levels were low. Platelets are important for blood clotting.
“The Holy Father’s condition is still critical, and as we said yesterday, he is not out of danger,” the Vatican said in a statement. This is the first time officials have used the word “critical” to describe his condition since he was hospitalized on February 14.
Despite his illness, Pope Francis remains awake and alert. He spent the day sitting in a chair but was in more pain than the day before, the Vatican reported.
Doctors are being very careful about making predictions. Because of his age and lung problems, his health could change quickly. The biggest risk is sepsis, a serious blood infection that can happen because of pneumonia. However, as of Friday, doctors said there were no signs of sepsis, and the pope was responding to his medications.
