Pope Francis continues to remain in a “critical but stable” condition as he battles a lung infection that has sparked the early stages of kidney insufficiency.
The Vatican said on Tuesday that Pope Francis resumed work while doctors monitored him for bilateral pneumonia.
“The Holy Father’s clinical condition remains critical, but stationary… No acute respiratory episodes occurred and hemodynamic parameters continue to be stable,” The Vatican said.
“In the evening he carried out a scheduled control CT scan for radiological monitoring of bilateral pneumonia… The prognosis remains reserved.
“In the morning, after receiving the Eucharist, he resumed work.”
Doctors said on late Sunday he was in critical condition but he hadn’t experienced any further respiratory crises since Saturday.
Francis was receiving high flows of supplemental oxygen and, on Sunday, was alert, and responsive, and even attended mass in the hospital chapel on Sunday with those caring for him.
Doctors described Francis’ condition as touch-and-go, given his age, fragility and pre-existing lung disease. He had part of one lung removed as a young man.
They have warned that the main threat facing Francis is sepsis, a serious infection of the blood that can occur as a complication of pneumonia.
To date, there has been no reference to any onset of sepsis in the medical updates provided by the Vatican, including on Sunday.
The Pope asked well-wishers to “pray for me”.
“In recent days, I have received many messages of affection, and I have been particularly struck by the letters and drawings from children,” he said in a statement.
“Thank you for this closeness, and for the prayers of comfort I have received from all over the world! I entrust you all to the intercession of Mary, and I ask you to pray for me.”
This is his fourth hospitalisation since his 2013 election, raising concerns about his increasingly fragile health.
Ailing health
Francis has other health problems as well. He uses a wheelchair, walker, or cane to move around his apartment and recently fell twice, injuring his arm and chin.
In 2021, he had 33cm of his large intestine removed due to a narrowing of the colon. Two years later, he underwent further abdominal surgery to remove scar tissue and repair a hernia.
During a 2023 hospital stay, he was diagnosed with what he later described as “acute and strong pneumonia in the lower part of the lungs”.
Bronchitis can sometimes develop into pneumonia, a more severe infection affecting the lungs’ air sacs.
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