Archive photo: Pope Francis at the feast of Jehovah’s introduction held on February 1, 2025 at Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.
Ciro de Luca | Reuters
The Vatican said on Sunday that Pope Francis, who is fighting double pneumonia in the hospital, said on Sunday that he had a “serene” night of struggle against double pneumonia in the hospital.
The pope was taken to the Jegli Hospital in Rome on February 14 days after dyspnea, and was later diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs.
The Vatican described his condition as the first time Saturday, and he reported that the 88-year-old Francis needed oxygen and blood transfusions that day.
“The night is quiet and the pope is resting,” the Vatican said in an update on Sunday morning.
Double pneumonia is a serious infection that can inflame and scar both lungs, making it difficult to breathe. The Vatican describes the Pope’s infection as “complex”, saying it is caused by two or more microorganisms.
Francis, who has been the pope since 2013, has suffered poor health in the past two years. He is particularly prone to lung infections because he developed pleuritis at a young age and part of his lungs.
The Vatican said in a statement Saturday night that the pope suffered a “long-term asthma-like respiratory crisis” and needed to manage “high oxygen flow.”
It said he also needed blood transfusions because tests showed he had a low platelet count, which was associated with anemia. Platelets are fragments of cells that form clots in our blood and prevent or prevent bleeding.
In a briefing Friday, two of his doctors said the pope was very vulnerable because of his age and general vulnerability.
Dr. Sergio Alfieri, a senior member of the Gemelli staff, said the lung infection could spread to his blood and develop into sepsis, “it could be difficult to overcome.”
