Pope Francis is in a critical condition after experiencing a long asthmatic respiratory crisis that necessitated high levels of oxygen, as confirmed by the Vatican.

At the age of 88, Francis has been in the hospital for a week due to a complicated lung infection. Additionally, he underwent blood transfusions following tests that indicated a condition related to anemia, according to the latest update from the Vatican.

In today’s statement, the Vatican mentioned, ‘The Holy Father remains conscious and has spent the day sitting in a chair, although he is experiencing more discomfort compared to yesterday. Currently, the prognosis is guarded.’

Earlier, doctors said Francis was battling pneumonia and a complex respiratory infection that doctors explained remains touch-and-go and will keep him hospitalised for at least another week.

The Vatican carried on with its Holy Year celebrations without the pope today. 

In a brief update this afternoon, Francis is said to have slept well overnight.

But doctors warned the main threat facing Francis is the onset of sepsis, a serious infection of the blood that can occur as a complication of pneumonia. 

As of Friday, there was no evidence of any sepsis, and Francis was responding to the various drugs he is taking, the pope’s medical team said in their first in-depth update on his condition.

Pope Francis, 88, is in a critical condition after he suffered a long asthmatic respiratory crisis that required high flows of oxygen, the Vatican has said 

Dr Sergio Alfieri (pictured), the head of medicine and surgery at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, said the biggest threat facing Francis was that some of the germs that are currently located in his respiratory system pass into the bloodstream, causing sepsis

A candle with the image of Pope Francis sits at the foot of the statue of Pope St. John Paul II outside Gemelli University Hospital

Candles, flowers, and pictures of Pope Francis are placed at the base of the statue of the late Pope John Paul II 

‘He is not out of danger,’ said his personal physician, Dr. Luigi Carbone. ‘So like all fragile patients I say they are always on the golden scale: In other words, it takes very little to become unbalanced.’

Francis, who has chronic lung disease, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on February 14 after a weeklong bout of bronchitis worsened.

Doctors first diagnosed the complex viral, bacterial and fungal respiratory tract infection and then the onset of pneumonia in both lungs. They prescribed ‘absolute rest’ and a combination of cortisone and antibiotics, along with supplemental oxygen when he needs it.

Carbone, who along with Francis’ personal nurse Massimiliano Strappetti organized care for him at the Vatican, acknowledged he had insisted on staying at the Vatican to work, even after he was sick, ‘because of institutional and private commitments’. 

He was cared for by a cardiologist and infectious specialist in addition to his personal medical team before being hospitalised.

Dr Sergio Alfieri, the head of medicine and surgery at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, said the biggest threat facing Francis was that some of the germs that are currently located in his respiratory system pass into the bloodstream, causing sepsis. Sepsis can lead to organ failure and death.

‘Sepsis, with his respiratory problems and his age, would be really difficult to get out of,’ Alfieri told a news conference on Friday at Gemelli. 

‘The English say “knock on wood”, we say “touch iron”. Everyone touch what they want,’ he said as he tapped the microphone. ‘But this is the real risk in these cases: that these germs pass to the bloodstream.’

‘He knows he’s in danger,’ Alfieri added. ‘And he told us to relay that.’

Outside Gemelli Hospital, where Pope Francis is admitted for treatment

Pope Francis’ doctors, Professor Sergio Alfieri (right) and doctor Luigi Carbone (left), speak during a press conference at the Rome’s Agostino Gemelli hospital

Francis, who has been hospitalised for a week with a complex lung infection, also received blood transfusions after tests showed a condition associated with anemia

Deacons, meanwhile, were gathering at the Vatican for their special Jubilee weekend. Francis got sick at the start of the Vatican’s Holy Year, the once-every-quarter-century celebration of Catholicism. This weekend, Francis was supposed to have celebrated deacons, a ministry in the church that precedes ordination to the priesthood.

In his place, the Holy Year organizer will celebrate Sunday’s Mass, the Vatican said. And for the second weekend in a row, Francis was expected to skip his traditional Sunday noon blessing, which he could have delivered from Gemelli if he were up to it.

‘Look, even though he’s not (physically) here, we know he’s here,’ said Luis Arnaldo Lopez Quirindongo, a deacon from Ponce, Puerto Rico who was at the Vatican on Saturday for the Jubilee celebration. ‘He’s recovering, but he’s in our hearts and is accompanying us because our prayers and his go together.’

Beyond that, doctors have said Francis’ recovery will take time and that regardless he will still have to live with his chronic respiratory problems back at the Vatican.

‘He has to get over this infection and we all hope he gets over it,’ said Alfieri. ‘But the fact is, all doors are open.’