Pope Francis "remains in critical condition"
The pontiff's health has worsened after suffering a respiratory crisis and he now has "mild kidney failure"
BarcelonaPope Francis, hospitalized at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, remains in critical condition after having suffered a respiratory crisis on Saturday, for which he had to be given oxygen. He even needed blood transfusions. 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.
After the complications on Saturday, the Vatican reported on Sunday that Francis "remains in critical condition", although he has not had new respiratory crises. However, "some blood tests show an initial mild renal insufficiency, currently under control," details the medical report released by the Vatican, according to the Efe agency.
The report includes the words of Dr. Sergio Alfieri, head of surgery at Rome's Gemelli Hospital and who has operated on Francisc before. On Friday, Alfieri said that the Pope was not "safe" but was not "in danger of death." On Saturday, he added: "The blood tests carried out today also revealed thrombocytopenia (a lack of platelets in the blood), associated with anemia, which has required blood transfusions." "The Holy Father has spent the day in an armchair and in more pain than yesterday. For the moment, the prognosis is reserved," he concluded.
Several dozen faithful gathered in the square at the entrance to the 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, Spanish.
The pontiff, 88 years old, was admitted last Friday to the Gemelli Hospital in Rome for respiratory problems, which turned out to be bronchitis due to a polymicrobiological infection, which was later accompanied by bilateral pneumonia.
