ROME (AP) — Pope Francis was reported to be resting on Monday morning, following a quiet night in the hospital. This marks the 10th day of his hospitalization due to a complex lung infection that has led to the early stages of kidney failure, according to the Vatican.
The Vatican's brief statement did not mention if Pope Francis, aged 88, had woken up. It simply stated, “The night passed well, the pope slept and is resting.”
Late Sunday, doctors reported that blood tests indicated early kidney failure, which is currently under control. They confirmed that Pope Francis remains in critical condition but has not experienced further respiratory crises since Saturday.
He is receiving high flows of supplemental oxygen. On Sunday, he was alert, responsive, and even attended Mass. However, doctors have described his prognosis as guarded.
The doctors have expressed concerns due to Pope Francis' advanced age, fragility, and pre-existing lung disease. They have warned that the main threat to his health is sepsis, a severe blood infection that can arise as a complication of pneumonia.
To date, there has been no mention of sepsis onset in the medical updates provided by the Vatican, including the one on Sunday.
Monday marks Pope Francis’ 10th consecutive day in the hospital, equaling the longest hospitalization during his papacy. In 2021, he spent 10 days at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital after undergoing surgery to remove 33 centimeters (13 inches) of his colon.
In New York on Sunday, Cardinal Timothy Dolan addressed the situation, acknowledging what church leaders in Rome were not stating publicly: the Catholic faithful are united “at the bedside of a dying father.”
“As our Holy Father Pope Francis is in very, very fragile health, and probably close to death,” Dolan mentioned in his homily at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. However, he expressed hope and prayed that Francis would “bounce back.”
Pope Francis' condition has led to speculation about the future, particularly concerning what might occur if he becomes unconscious or otherwise incapacitated, and whether this might lead to his resignation.
