Vatican says Pope Francis is in ‘critical’ condition in latest update
Pope Francis experienced “an asthmatic respiratory crisis of prolonged magnitude, which also required the use of oxygen at high flows” Feb. 22, said the daily medical bulletin released by the Vatican.
In addition to needing more oxygen, which was administered through a nasal cannula, the bulletin said that the 88-year-old pope required a blood transfusion after tests “showed plateletopenia, associated with anemia.” Plateletopenia is a low platelet count.
“The Holy Father’s condition continues to be critical; therefore, as explained yesterday, the pope is not out of danger,” said the bulletin released late Feb. 22.