Pope Francis’s Health Has Worsened, the Vatican Said

The 88-year-old pontiff, suffering from pneumonia, had serious breathing difficulties on Saturday that required oxygen therapy

Pope Francis greets people at the end of the weekly general audience earlier in February.

The health of Pope Francis, in the hospital for over a week with pneumonia, worsened on Saturday, raising fears that he might not survive his struggle with pneumonia, only a day after his doctors had expressed cautious optimism.

Pope Francis had what the Vatican called “a prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis” on Saturday morning, requiring oxygen therapy. He also received blood transfusions for a low platelet count. Nevertheless, the pope spent the day sitting in his armchair, rather than lying down, the Vatican statement said.

“The Holy Father’s condition continues to be critical,” the Vatican said. “The Pope is not out of danger.”

The pope’s worsening condition was a setback for hopes that he might recover from his fight with bronchitis and pneumonia in recent weeks. The 88-year-old pontiff has a mix of viral, bacterial and fungal infections in his respiratory system, his doctors have said.

On Friday, they told reporters that the pope’s condition had improved over the past few days, leading them to say that he was not in immediate danger of death — but that complications were possible and that his prognosis could change from day to day. Saturday’s respiratory crisis illustrated that uncertainty.

The pope, who had part of his right lung removed as a young man, has become increasingly prone to respiratory infections with age, especially in winter. He was hospitalized in 2023 with an acute lung infection, which he later said was pneumonia.

As well as hospital visits for pulmonary infections, the pope in recent years has needed surgery to remove a part of his colon and to treat an abdominal hernia. Knee and back pains have forced him to use a wheelchair.