Pope Francis suffered a respiratory
crisis and his condition remains critical, according to a
medical bulletin issued by the Vatican Press Office on Saturday
evening.
"The condition of the Holy Father continues to be critical.
"Therefore, as explained yesterday, the Pope is not out of
danger.
"This morning, Pope Francis presented a prolonged asthmatic
respiratory crisis, which also required the application of
high-flow oxygen", the Vatican said in the bulletin.
"Today's blood tests moreover showed a thrombocytopenia,
associated with anaemia, which required the administration of
blood transfusions", it continued.
The Vatican however said the pontiff continued to remain alert
and spent the day in an armchair, although he was "more
uncomfortable than yesterday".
"At the moment, the prognosis is reserved", the bulletin
concluded.
The pontiff was admitted to Rome's Agostino Gemelli Hospital on
Friday, Februaty 14 with bronchitis which turned into pneumonia
in both lungs.
On Friday afternoon, the head of the medical team treating the
pontiff, Professor Sergio Alfieri, said that he was not out of
danger but he was not in a life-threatening condition.
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