Concern remains for Pope Francis amid ‘complex’ health issues

The Vatican has released another update on the condition of Pope Francis who remains hospitalised in Rome with serious health issues.

Pope Francis has shown a “slight improvement” in the past 24 hours and his renal in sufficiency has resolved, the Vatican says.

His CT scan showed a “normal evolution of pulmonary inflammation”.

He continues to receive oxygen and his prognosis remains “reserved”.

Francis’ condition is frequently described by the Vatican as “complex” and the prognosis as “reserved,” meaning that it’s too soon to tell. And while there have been some signs of “slight improvement,” his condition is still being described as “critical.”

The pope, who is battling pneumonia in both lungs, was up and out of bed on Wednesday local time after a peaceful night, a Vatican source said.

Pope Francis arriving at the Padre Pio Prayer Groups, on February 6, 2016 in Vatican. Pope Francis, who is hospitalised in critical condition with pneumonia in both lungs, "passed a tranquil night", the Vatican. Picture: AFP

Francis, 88, was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on February 14 with breathing difficulties, after which his condition deteriorated, sparking widespread concern among Catholics.

The pontiff, now in his 13th day at the hospital, was Wednesday “sitting in a chair, and continuing with the treatment as normal”, a Vatican source said.

A brief official update from the Holy See earlier said he had “passed a peaceful night and is resting”.

Doctors have warned the path to recovery could be long, with the pope likely staying in hospital beyond this week.

“There have been no acute respiratory episodes and haemodynamic parameters continue to be stable,” the Vatican said, referring to measurements such as heart rate and blood pressure.

Francis had a new scan “in the evening for radiological monitoring of bilateral pneumonia”, the Vatican said. “The prognosis remains reserved,” it added.

Despite his critical condition, the leader of the world’s nearly 1.4 billion Catholics has kept up with Church matters from his hospital suite, according to the Vatican.

On Wednesday he signed off a series of bishop appointments, it said. Pilgrims and faithful have been flocking to the Vatican and the Gemelli to pray for Francis, and there will be a fresh round of prayers held in St Peter’s Square on Wednesday evening.

Pope Francis remains hospitalised in Rome. Picture: AFP

It follows a statement issued on Tuesday night local time (Wednesday AEDT) that said “The prognosis remains guarded”.

Later in the day Pope Francis resumed work duties but it is understood he had no visitors on Tuesday.

It comes as the pontiff rested well on his 11th night in a Rome hospital after showing slight improvements in his ongoing health battle.

The Vatican issued a statement on Tuesday morning local time (Tuesday AEDT) and said, “The pope rested well the whole night”.

Yesterday, the Vatican reported the Pope had made a “slight improvement” in his ongoing health battle, resuming light work duties and reducing his reliance on oxygen.

Francis remains in Gemelli Hospital in northwest Rome, one of Italy’s largest hospitals, where he is receiving around-the-clock care from the country’s best doctors since he was first admitted to the facility on February 14.

Earlier, in a statement issued by the Vatican, it said the Pope was showing signs of improvement and there were no further signs of his respiratory problems worsening.

“There were no forms of asthmatic respiratory crises, some laboratory tests improved,” the Vatican statement said.

The Vatican also said he is eating and has resumed some minor work duties despite remaining in the biggest health fight of his life.

Pope Francis also phoned the pastor of the Gaza Parish on Monday to express his support in the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict.

He also thanked all the people who have gathered in recent days to pray for him to return to good health.

Worshippers gathered outside the hospital on Monday afternoon, praying for Pope Francis and singing hymns as people from all around the world hope he can make a speedy recovery,

The hospital, named after the theologian and physician Agostino Gemelli in 1934, has become known as the ‘Pope’s hospital’ and its patients have included the late John Paul II.

Candles and messages of support have been left outside Gemelli Hospital in Rome where Pope Francis remains in a critical condition. Picture: Sophie Elsworth

Pope Francis has been admitted to the hospital numerous times over the past 15 years.

Many notes, cards, candles and balloons rest at the base of a statue of John Paul II outside the front entrance to the hospital with messages mounting up offering support for the pope.

On Sunday evening the Holy See Press Office revealed he was in a critical condition after being earlier diagnosed with double bronchitis in both his long as well as battling respiratory issues and requiring oxygen.

People left presents for the Pope at the statue of Pope John Paul II outside Gemelli Hospital in Rome where Pope Francis remains hospitalised. Picture: Sophie Elsworth

A picture shows the statue of John Paul II outside the Gemelli hospital where Pope Francis is hospitalised in Rome. Picture: AFP

The Vatican also said that the pope had received blood transfusions to help increase his haemoglobin levels.

Two daily updates are continued to be provided to the large contingency of international media, many who have flown from all around the world to Rome to report on the pope’s health that remains under a serious cloud.

The pope has had many medical issues in recent years including battling weight problems and he has been reliant on a wheelchair due to his bad knees.

During his latest health battle he has also been dealing with thrombocytopenia – a condition that occurs when the platelet count in the blood is too low which allows the blood to clot.

Platelets are tiny blood cells that are made in the bone marrow from larger cells and the condition can be life-threatening if there is bleeding within the brain.

Originally published as Concern remains for Pope Francis amid ‘complex’ health issues