Vatican officials said on Saturday (Sunday AEDT) that Pope Francis' condition was critical after he suffered a persistent asthmatic respiratory crisis while being treated for pneumonia and a complex lung infection. This sudden turn of events has raised concerns about the pontiff's health and recovery.

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According to the latest update released by the Vatican, the 88-year-old Pope is currently conscious and is receiving "high-flow" oxygen to assist his breathing. He also underwent a blood transfusion after tests revealed a low platelet count, which is crucial for blood clotting. The medical team is closely monitoring his response to the treatment.

The statement said: "The Pope's condition remains critical, and therefore, as explained yesterday (Friday), the Pope is not out of danger." This marks the first time since Francis' hospitalization on February 14 that the word "critical" has been used in a written statement to describe his condition. This underscores the severity of the Pope's health situation.

The statement also indicated that the Pope "remains alert and spent the day in an armchair, but in greater distress than yesterday." Doctors declined to offer a prognosis, calling the situation "reserved." Doctors stated that given Francis' age, frailty, and history of lung disease, his condition is very unstable. This highlights the challenges in predicting his recovery.

Doctors warned that the main threat facing Francis is the development of sepsis, a severe blood infection that can be a complication of pneumonia. As of Friday, there was no evidence of any sepsis, and Francis was responding to the various medications he was taking. The Pope's medical team provided the first detailed update on the Pope's condition, offering more transparency.

Blood tests on Saturday revealed that he had developed a low platelet count, a condition known as thrombocytopenia. Platelets are cell-like fragments circulating in the blood that help form clots to stop bleeding or help wounds heal. According to the National Institutes of Health, a low platelet count can be caused by a variety of factors, including side effects from medications or infections. This complicates the Pope's treatment and recovery process.

Francis suffers from chronic lung disease and is prone to bronchitis in the winter, and he was hospitalized on February 14 after a week-long bout of bronchitis worsened. Doctors initially diagnosed a complex viral, bacterial, and fungal respiratory infection before diagnosing pneumonia in both lungs. They prescribed "absolute rest," along with a combination of corticosteroids and antibiotics, and supplemental oxygen as needed. This comprehensive treatment plan aimed to address the underlying infections and support his respiratory function.

Saturday's update marked the first time the Vatican mentioned that Francis had suffered a "persistent asthmatic respiratory crisis, which also required the application of high-flow oxygen." Dr. Sergio Alfieri, director of medical and surgical medicine at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, said on Friday that the biggest threat facing Francis is some bacteria currently in his respiratory system entering the bloodstream, causing sepsis. Sepsis can lead to organ failure and death. This underscores the critical nature of preventing secondary infections.

“With regard to his respiratory problem and his age, sepsis is really hard to get rid of,” Alfieri said at a news conference held at Gemelli on Friday. He added: “The English say ‘knock on wood,’ we say ‘touch iron.’ Everyone touches what they want to touch.” “But this is the real risk in these situations: that these bacteria go into the blood.” Alfieri added: “He knows he is in danger and told us to convey that.” This candid assessment highlights the gravity of the situation and the Pope's awareness of the risks.

Meanwhile, the Vatican's top officials have begun to take a defensive stance to quell rumors and speculation about Francis potentially deciding to resign. There is nothing in canon law that dictates what should happen if the Pope becomes incapacitated. Francis has said that he wrote a letter of resignation that would be invoked if he became medically unable to make such a decision. This reflects the Vatican's proactive approach to address potential scenarios.

The Pope remains fully lucid, alert, eating, and working. Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, gave a rare interview to Corriere della Sera in response to speculation and rumors about a possible resignation. This came after the Vatican issued an unusual official statement denying a report by an Italian media outlet that Parolin and the Pope's chief canon lawyer had secretly visited Francis in the hospital. The Vatican is actively working to maintain stability amid the uncertainty.

The implications of such a meeting would be significant, given the canon law requirements that make a resignation legitimate, but the Vatican flatly denied that any such meeting took place. Parolin said that such speculation seemed "pointless" when what really mattered was Francis' health, recovery, and return to the Vatican. Parolin was quoted as saying: "On the other hand, I think it is normal that in these circumstances uncontrolled rumors may circulate, or that some inappropriate comments may be made. It is certainly not the first time this has happened." "However, I don't think there is anything particularly moving, and so far I haven't heard anything like that." This emphasizes the importance of focusing on the Pope's well-being rather than engaging in speculation.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Saturday that President Donald Trump had been briefed on the Pope's condition and was drafting his own statement, which would be released later. "We are praying for the Pope," Leavitt said. Leavitt is one of three government officials facing a lawsuit filed by the Associated Press on First and Fifth Amendment grounds. The AP says Leavitt and the other two are punishing editorial decisions the news organization opposes. The White House says the AP failed to abide by an executive order calling the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of the Americas. This shows international attention to the Pope's health and the political implications of the situation.

Meanwhile, deacons gathered in the Vatican for their special Jubilee weekend. Francis fell ill at the start of the Vatican's Jubilee year, a Catholic celebration held once every quarter-century. This weekend, Francis was supposed to celebrate deacons, a holy order in the church that precedes promotion to the priesthood. The Vatican said Jubilee organizers would celebrate Sunday Mass in his place. And for the second weekend in a row, Francis will skip his traditional Sunday noon blessing, which he could have delivered from Gemelli Hospital if his health had allowed. The Pope's illness has disrupted planned religious events.

“You see, even if he is not here (physically), we know he is here,” Deacon Luis Arnaldo López Quiñones of Ponce, Puerto Rico, said on Saturday while in the Vatican for the Jubilee celebrations. “He is recovering, but he is in our hearts and accompanies us, because our prayers and his prayers are united.” This reflects the continued faith and support for the Pope despite his illness.