Pope Francis is resting comfortably after a quiet night on the 10th day of his hospitalisation for a severe lung infection that has progressed to the early stages of kidney failure, the Vatican reported Monday.
“The night passed well; the pope slept and is resting,” read the brief statement. However, no mention was made of whether the 88-year-old pontiff had awakened.
The Argentine leader of the Catholic Church, who has served as pope since 2013, was initially admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital with bronchitis. The condition worsened into double pneumonia, leading to a critical phase of treatment.
“The Holy Father’s condition remains critical, and as explained on Friday, he is not yet out of danger,” the Vatican noted in a medical bulletin issued Saturday evening. “At present, the prognosis is reserved.”
Despite his condition, Pope Francis has remained alert, reportedly spending Saturday in an armchair, though experiencing more discomfort than the previous day. That morning, he endured a “prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis,” requiring high-flow oxygen therapy.
Daily blood tests have also revealed thrombocytopenia, a condition marked by a dangerously low platelet count. This condition, associated with anemia, necessitated blood transfusions, the Vatican added.
According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), thrombocytopenia can pose a severe bleeding risk, with transfusions often needed to stabilize the patient.
Prayers and support for the Pontiff
The Vatican confirmed that Pope Francis would not deliver his weekly Angelus prayer on Sunday, instead releasing the prepared text to the public.
Traditionally, he has delivered the prayer from the balcony of the Gemelli Hospital, where he is staying in a specially equipped papal suite on the 10th floor.
On Saturday, a group of nuns and priests from around the world gathered outside the hospital to pray for the pope.
Standing near a statue of former Pope John Paul II—where well-wishers had left candles bearing Francis’s image—the group sang and prayed.
“We are praying for Pope Francis, hoping for his recovery by the grace of God,” Brazilian priest Don Wellison told this news wire.
Speculation on Papal leadership
Although Pope Francis has stated that the papacy is a lifelong mission, he has left open the possibility of resignation, following the example of his predecessor, Benedict XVI.
Benedict, the first pope in centuries to step down voluntarily, resigned in 2013, citing declining health.
While Francis has reiterated that it is not yet time for him to retire, his recent illness has reignited questions about his ability to lead the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
Despite mounting health challenges—including colon surgery in 2021 and a hernia operation in 2023—Francis has maintained a demanding schedule. In September, he embarked on a 12-day tour of the Asia-Pacific.
However, his increasing reliance on a wheelchair due to chronic hip and knee pain, coupled with his current condition, has heightened concerns about his capacity to continue his role.
