Pope Francis' health worsens

BarcelonaPope Francis, hospitalized at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, is in critical condition after having suffered a respiratory crisis on Saturday, for which he has had to be given oxygen. He has even required blood transfusions, as detailed in the latest medical report. Francis' health had slightly improved after his admission to the hospital. In fact, the Vatican reported that the pontiff was already better, although the alert was maintained.

"The condition of the Holy Father remains critical and, as explained yesterday, the Pope is not safe. This morning, Pope Francis suffered a prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis, which has also required the application of high-flow oxygen," says the Vatican statement, according to the Efe agency. It adds that "blood tests carried out today have also revealed thrombocytopenia (lack of platelets in the blood), associated with anemia, which has required the administration of blood transfusions." "The Holy Father has spent the day in an armchair, although in more pain than yesterday. For the moment the prognosis is reserved," it added.

The report includes the words of Dr Sergio Alfieri, head of surgery at Rome's Gemelli hospital and who has operated on Francis before. On Friday Alfieri said that the Pope was not "safe" but was not "in danger of death".

Several dozen faithful gathered in the entrance square of Gemelli, around the statue of John Paul II, where an altar was improvised with flowers and candles to pray together the rosary "for the health of the Holy Father Francis", in Italian, English and Spanish.

The pontiff, 88 years old, was admitted last Friday to Rome's Gemelli hospital for respiratory problems, which were due to bronchitis due to a polymicrobial infection, which was later added to bilateral pneumonia.

As last week, this Sunday only the text of the Angelus will be released so that the Pope can rest.