Pope Francis, who has been fighting pneumonia for two weeks, is in a stable state after a “isolated” respiratory crisis on Friday, the Vatican said.
The 88 -year -old man experienced an episode of vomiting and a “sudden worsening of his respiratory state” at the hospital last night, and received Gas through a facial mask to help him breathe.
The Vatican said on Saturday evening that the Pope had not suffered other respiratory crises and had responded to oxygen therapy.
He did not share any prognosis, but said that the pontiff remained “alert and well oriented”.
In a statement, the Vatican said that the pope had received the Eucharist this afternoon “then devoted himself to prayer”.
He alternated between an oxygen mask and “long periods of high speed oxygen,” he added.
He said that the Pope did not show signs of an increase in the number of white blood cells, which may indicate an infection or inflammation, and that his blood flow and his circulation “remained stable”.
The Pope also continued to eat and actively cooperated with “regular respiratory physiotherapy, he said.
Earlier, the Vatican said that the pope had had a “peaceful night” and rested, with an official adding: “I think he had a coffee this morning.”
Vatican sources said that the Pope’s doctors needed 24 to 48 hours to determine if there had been damage or a setback in his overall state.
Friday evening, in a previous declaration, the Vatican said that the Pope had “an isolated crisis of bronchospasm which, however, had led to an episode of vomiting with inhalation and sudden worsening of the respiratory condition”.
This health update occurred after a few days during which the Vatican declarations had been slightly more positive, speaking of a “slight improvement” in the state of the pontiff.
Friday morning, he made communion.
In a previous medical update, the Vatican stressed that the Pope would remain at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome due to the “complex” clinical image.
The level of detail of Vatican officials on the last Pope’s crisis is extraordinary.
It is now the longest that the Pope was at the hospital – and the longest period during which he was out of sight of the public – since he succeeded Pope Benoît in 2013.
This makes many Roman Catholics nervous.
Previously, Italian television channels indicated that the Pope was “no longer critical”, because this word has disappeared from the health updates of the Vatican recently and that the health of the Pope slipped into the agenda of the news.
Now he is back on the first pages, although the news of the brutal dressing of the Ukrainian president in the oval office was the biggest story.
“Another crisis, anxiety for the pope” was The title of Il Messaggero, which also speaks of “prayers and tears” among the Catholics gathered for evening prayers outside the Basilica of St Peter.
“Vomit and respiratory crisis: anxiety for the return of the pope” was the title of Il Giornale.
The pope was admitted to the hospital on February 14 after having encountered breathing difficulties for several days.
It was first treated for bronchitis before receiving a diagnosis of pneumonia in the two lungs.
The pontiff is particularly sensitive to pneumonia, an infection of lungs which can be caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi, after having contracted pleurisy – inflammation of the lungs – as a young man and has had a partial lung withdrawal.
The head of the Roman Catholic Church was admitted to the hospital several times during his 12 -year term, in particular to be treated for bronchitis in the same hospital in March 2023.
From Argentina, Pope Francis is the first Latin America and the first Jesuit to direct the Roman Catholic Church.