For the first time, the condition of Pope Francis has been labelled as “critical” by the Vatican.
Pope’s health has worsened in the last few hours and he is currently hospitalised in Rome.
The 88-year-old Francis has suffered a “prolonged asthma-like respiratory crisis” and requires the administration of “high-flow oxygen”.
Besides the additional oxygen, the Vatican said he had also needed blood transfusions because tests showed he had a low platelet count, which is associated with anemia.
The Vatican also mentioned that Pope Francis is not out of danger.
Argentina prays for Pope Francis
Gatherings and rosary prayers for the pope’s recovery have been promoted all over Argentina (Pope’s birth country), and everything was organised very quickly.
It can be hard to breathe if you have double pneumonia, a dangerous infection that can make both lungs swell and scar. The Vatican says that the pope’s illness is “complex,” which means that it is caused by two or more microorganisms.
While being briefed on Friday, two of the pope’s doctors said that he was very vulnerable because he was old and weak.
Pope Francis has been sick several times in the past two years. He has been pope since 2013. Because he got pleurisy as a young adult and had part of one lung removed, he is more likely to get lung diseases.
