Pope Francis has sent a message to 1.2 billion Catholics across the world after the Vatican confirmed he was in a critical condition.
The 88-year-old is being treated for pneumonia in both lungs and chronic bronchitis at the Catholic Gemelli Hospital in Rome where he was admitted almost 10 days ago.
He required ‘high flows’ of oxygen to help him breathe and received blood transfusions after tests showed low counts of platelets, which are needed for clotting.
‘I am confidently continuing my hospitalisation at the Gemelli Hospital, carrying on with the necessary treatment; and rest is also part of the therapy,’ the pontiff said in his message from his hospital bed, released by the Vatican today.
‘I sincerely thank the doctors and health workers of this hospital for the attention they are showing me and the dedication with which they carry out their service among the sick,.’
Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni’s issued a one-line statement earlier this morning about the last 12 hours but did not mention if Francis was up or eating breakfast.
On Saturday, the pontiff suffered a prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis while being treated for his complex condition.
He ‘continues to be alert and spent the day in an armchair although in more pain than yesterday,’ the Vatican had said.
Doctors said the prognosis was ‘reserved’, only aggravating the fears of 1.2 billion of Catholics across the world.
His condition was described as ‘touch and go’, given his age, fragility and pre-existing lung disease.
The main threat facing Francis is if the infection enters his bloodstream, a serious condition known as sepsis.
The pope, who has chronic lung disease and is prone to bronchitis during the winter, was hospitalised on February 14 after a weeklong bout of bronchitis worsened.
Doctors first diagnosed the complex viral, bacterial and fungal respiratory tract infection and then the onset of pneumonia in both lungs.
They prescribed ‘absolute rest’ and a combination of cortisone and antibiotics, along with supplemental oxygen when he needs it.
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