The Vatican shared on Saturday that Pope Francis has taken a turn for the worse, as he was placed in “critical condition” just four days after he contracted pneumonia.
“The condition of the Holy Father continues to be critical. Therefore, as explained yesterday, the Pope is not out of danger. This morning, Pope Francis experienced an asthma-like respiratory crisis of prolonged intensity, which required the administration of high-flow oxygen,” the Vatican said in a statement.
While he is not attached to a ventilator, the update shared that he is struggling to breathe. He is currently receiving care at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome.
The Vatican also shared on Saturday that his blood tests showed thrombocytopenia, which is associated with anemia and requires the administration of blood transfusions.
Still, the pope shared praise on Sunday for those who were praying for his recovery, sharing his thoughts on social media.
"I have been particularly struck by the letters and drawings from children," the pope's official account on X shared on Sunday. "Thank you for your closeness, and for the consoling prayers I have received from all over the world!"
On Wednesday, medical staff found that Pope Francis was suffering from a polymicrobial respiratory tract infection. Doctors had been working to stop any infection from entering his bloodstream, which could cause sepsis.
Even though he’s been placed in critical condition, his staff said he had a restful night on Friday.
“The Holy Father remains alert and spent the day in an armchair, although he is more fatigued than yesterday. At the moment, the prognosis remains guarded,” the Vatican shared.
As a precaution, Pope Francis said he penned a letter of resignation, which will be invoked should he not be medically capable of excusing himself as the head of the Roman Catholic Church.