Pope Francis remains in critical condition as he battles pneumonia in both lungs, with the Vatican confirming Sunday that the 88-year-old pontiff has shown early signs of mild kidney failure. Blood tests revealed the issue, though Vatican officials emphasized that it is currently under control.
Despite the severity of his condition, the Vatican noted some stability, reporting that Francis has not experienced further respiratory crises since Saturday evening. “The Holy Father remains vigilant and well-oriented,” the statement said.
The pope was first hospitalized over a week ago at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital after undergoing tests for a respiratory tract infection, which was later confirmed to be pneumonia.
Faithful Worldwide Pray as Pope Misses Angelus Prayer
The Argentine pope’s illness has prompted a global outpouring of prayers from faith leaders and worshippers. His schedule has been cleared as he focuses on intensive medical treatment, including high-flow oxygen to support his breathing.
On Sunday morning, Pope Francis participated in Holy Mass from his hospital apartment on the 10th floor, joined by the medical staff overseeing his care. However, for only the third time in nearly 12 years as pontiff, he did not deliver the traditional weekly Angelus prayer.
In his prepared Sunday sermon, which was shared with the press in advance, Francis expressed gratitude to the medical staff for their dedication during his hospitalization.
Doctors Cautious But Hopeful
The Vatican described the pope’s condition as complex, noting that “the necessary wait for pharmacological therapies to provide some feedback” means that the prognosis remains uncertain.
Despite this, there have been some positive signs. On Monday morning, the Vatican reported that Francis was “awake” and “in good humor” after a stable night. His condition had seemed to improve late last week, with officials saying he was responding “positively” to treatment on Thursday.
Medical experts weighed in on the Vatican’s latest update. Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, a urologist at Orlando Health Medical Group, told CNN that the mild kidney failure isn’t necessarily alarming but is still a sign of the pope’s fragile state.
“The kidneys are delicate yet resilient organs,” Brahmbhatt explained. “In older adults, infections like pneumonia can lead to complications such as sepsis, which causes widespread inflammation and can damage multiple organs, including the kidneys.”
In Pope Francis’ case, this has resulted in mild renal failure, which Brahmbhatt noted could either improve with treatment or become permanent.
