Pope Francis Update: “Critical Condition”

Pope Francis remains in a critical condition.

Key Points

Having spent more than a week in hospital in Rome, blood tests have now revealed the 88-year-old is showing “mild signs” of kidney failure.

The Vatican said the Pope had “initial, mild, renal insufficiency”.  The condition is “currently under control”.

The Pontiff was “alert and well oriented”, the Vatican reported.

No prognosis

Tests previously revealed that Pope Francis had pneumonia in both lungs.

He was first admitted to hospital on Friday, February 14, for bronchitis.

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The Vatican said the Pope had “initial, mild, renal insufficiency”.

“His clinical condition is stable, with a slight fever,” the Vatican said at the time.

Since the diagnosis of pneumonia, the Vatican has not provided a prognosis for the Pope, who is currently receiving oxygen.

“The complexity of the clinical picture, and the necessary wait for pharmacological therapies to provide some feedback, require that the prognosis remain reserved,” a statement read.

“Thank you”

In a post on social media, the Pope said that he had received “many messages of affection”.

Tests previously revealed that Pope Francis had pneumonia in both lungs.

He had also received letters and drawings from children.

“Thank you for your closeness and for the consoling prayers I have received from all over the world,” he said in the post.

Sunday mass

Despite his illness, the Pope attended yesterday’s Vatican Sunday mass from his hospital suite at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.

The mass took place at the Vatican’s St Peter’s Basilica.

The Pope “participated in the Holy Mass, together with those who are taking care of him during these days”, a Vatican statement said.

Catholics prayed for the Pope at the mass.

The Pope attended yesterday’s Vatican Sunday mass from his hospital suite at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.

“I just wanted to come here and say a prayer and wish him a quick recovery,” a male member of the congregation told the ABC.

An emotional woman at the mass said, “I just want to wish him well. I just think he’s an amazing Pope.”

“Very fragile health”

Though the message from the Vatican is somewhat positive, some commentators and priests have grave concerns for the elderly Pontiff, who has held the Papal office for nearly 12 years.

According to the New York Times, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York, warned parishioners that Francis “might not recover”.

“We of the Catholic family, and so many of our friends and neighbors find ourselves this morning at the bedside of a dying father,” the Cardinal said.

“As our Holy Father, Pope Francis is in very, very fragile health and probably close to death.”

But in an interview with an Italian newspaper, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said the focus was on returning the Pope to health.

His comments came while addressing reported calls for the Pope to resign.

“All of this seems to me to be unfounded speculation,” he said.

“Right now, our focus is on the Holy Father’s health, his recovery, and his return to the Vatican—these are the only things that matter.”

History of illness

The Pope has a long history of lung issues, including a bout of pulmonary infection, which required a part of his lung to be removed as a young man.

He was previously hospitalised with pneumonia in 2023.