Europe

Home page

Europe

Pope Francis remains critical and has 'slight' kidney issue, Vatican says

23 February 2025 22:41 (UTC +04:00)

Pope Francis, battling double pneumonia, remains in a critical condition for a second day running and has shown an "initial, slight insufficiency" in his kidney function, the Vatican said on Sunday, APA reports citing Reuters.

The prognosis for the 88-year-old pope, who required a transfusion of two units of blood on Saturday after experiencing a "prolonged asthma-like respiratory crisis," remains "guarded", according to the latest medical update.

"The condition of the Holy Father remains critical; however, since last night he has not experienced further respiratory crises," the Vatican said on Sunday.

Blood tests also indicated "an initial, slight renal insufficiency, which is currently under control," it said, referring to the functioning of the kidneys, which filter waste products in the blood.

"The complexity of the clinical picture, and the necessary wait for the pharmacological therapies to show some effect, require that the prognosis remains guarded," said the statement.

The statement described the pope as "alert and well-oriented" and said he was receiving "high-flow oxygen therapy" through a tube under his nose.