Pope Francis health has taken a turn, with the Vatican reporting his condition as “critical” following a severe respiratory episode. The 88-year-old pontiff, already hospitalized for bronchitis, required oxygen therapy and a blood transfusion, the Vatican said Saturday.
The Vatican’s statement indicated a “reserved” prognosis, signaling caution from medical personnel. Francis’s hospitalization comes amid the Catholic Church’s Jubilee year.
The Pope was admitted to Gemelli Hospital on Feb. 14 for bronchitis, later complicated by pneumonia in both lungs. The Vatican attributed the polymicrobial infection to pre-existing bronchiectasis and asthmatic bronchitis, necessitating corticosteroids and antibiotics.
The Pope’s need for a blood transfusion has heightened concerns about sepsis. Pope Francis spent Saturday alert and seated, but experienced increased discomfort, the Vatican noted.
The downturn is unexpected. Just days earlier, the Vatican had signaled a “slight improvement,” with Pope Francis resuming some duties, including a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Meloni, after that meeting, characterized Francis as “alert and responsive,” adding that, “We joked as always.”
The combination of pneumonia and the transfusion raises alarm. The Vatican has not commented on a potential cause.
Pope Francis has faced persistent health issues in recent years, including respiratory ailments and multiple surgeries. He underwent procedures for diverticulitis in 2021 and a hernia in 2023.
Last week, Francis was seen with his arm in a sling after a fall.
The Pope, in an autobiography released in January, dismissed health worries and pledged against resignation. “I am well,” he wrote, emphasizing that the Church “is governed using the head and the heart, not the legs.”
The pontiff’s health scare coincides with the Catholic Church’s Jubilee, a major event held every 50 years.
Pope Francis has led the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics since 2013.
