Pope Franciscus (88) is not doing well. According to the Vatican, “the Holy Father” is in critical condition in the hospital. It is the first time that the Vatican has labeled its condition as such. On Saturday morning the pope received a long asthma attack and then a blood transfusion due to a shortage of platelets, which indicates anemia. Later he also had to take the ventilation.
On February 14, the pope was taken to the Gemelli hospital in Rome for shortness of breath. Then it turned out that he was bothered by a “complex” double pneumonia. On Saturday his condition deteriorated. “The pope is not out of danger,” the Vatican said in a statement. In an earlier statement on Friday, his doctors already announced that the pope is very vulnerable due to his age and physical condition.
The pope would be present this weekend at a celebration for deacons, but has to pass all activities for the holy year in the coming days because of his physical condition.