Pope Francis Is in critical conditionI after he suffered a long asthmatic respiratory crisis that required high flows of oxygen, the Vatican said.
The 88-year-old Francis, who has been in hospital for a week with pneumonia and a complex lung infection, also received blood transfusions after tests showed low counts of platelets, which are needed for clotting, associated with anemia, the Vatican said in a late update.
“The Holy Father’s condition continues to be critical, therefore, as explained yesterday [Friday, local time], the Pope is not out of danger,” the statement said. It was the first time “critical” was used, in a written statement, to describe Francis’ condition.
The…