Pope Francis Health Update: Vatican Reports Mild Kidney Failure and Critical Condition

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Pope Francis, the 88-year-old leader of the Catholic Church, remains in critical condition following his week-long hospitalization for a lung infection, with the Vatican reporting that he has experienced mild kidney failure, but his medical team says the situation is under control. The pope is still on supplemental oxygen and has not had any further respiratory crises since Saturday night, according to the Vatican. Despite his critical condition, Francis is alert and "well-oriented," and he has participated in Sunday Mass from his hospital room. The Vatican has also reported that Francis has received blood transfusions following tests that indicated a condition associated with anemia, and his doctors expect him to remain hospitalized through the next week.

The pope's medical team has said that his prognosis remains reserved due to the complexity of his clinical picture and the need to wait for drug therapies to provide some feedback. Francis has been hospitalized since February 14 for a case of bronchitis, which worsened and developed into bilateral pneumonia, requiring further treatment. The Vatican has said that the primary threat to Francis' health would be the onset of sepsis, a serious condition that could arise from pneumonia complications, though Francis has not shown signs of sepsis so far. The pope has a history of respiratory issues, including chronic bronchitis, and has been hospitalized several times in recent years, including one hospital stay in July 2021 for a narrowing of his large intestine, and another in 2023 for bronchitis.

Francis has continued some of his work despite his ongoing hospitalization, including calling the Rev. Gabriel Romanelli, priest of the only Roman Catholic parish in Gaza, every night, even while he was in the hospital. The near daily communication between Francis and Romanelli began as a result of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. The pope has also released written remarks for his Angelus address, in which he renewed his "solidarity with the martyred Ukrainian people" and invited congregants "to remember the victims of all armed conflicts and to pray for the gift of peace in Palestine, Israel, and throughout the Middle East, in Myanmar, in Kivu, and in Sudan." The Vatican has dismissed rumors that the pope may resign from his post, with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, saying that any potential changes in leadership were "unfounded speculation" at the moment.

The pope's health crisis has led to his absence from some regular Vatican appearances and drawn groups of Catholic worshippers to St. Peter's Square to pray for his recovery. Archbishop Rino Fisichella, a senior Vatican official, has called on parishioners to make their prayers for Francis "stronger and more fervent." The Vatican has said that Francis is grateful for the "many messages of affection" he has received since he was hospitalized, and he has thanked the doctors and health workers at the Gemelli Hospital for their attention and dedication. The pope's medical team has said that he will continue to receive treatment, including supplemental oxygen, drug therapy, and blood transfusions, as needed, and that his condition will continue to be monitored closely.

In terms of the timeline of events, here is a list of key developments in the pope's health crisis: * February 14: Pope Francis is hospitalized for a case of bronchitis * February 18: The Vatican reports that Francis has developed bilateral pneumonia and requires further treatment * February 23: The Vatican reports that Francis has experienced mild kidney failure, but his medical team says the situation is under control * February 23: The pope participates in Sunday Mass from his hospital room and releases written remarks for his Angelus address * February 24: The Vatican dismisses rumors that the pope may resign from his post, with Cardinal Pietro Parolin saying that any potential changes in leadership were "unfounded speculation" at the moment. The pope's health crisis has sparked an outpouring of support from around the world, with prayers and messages of affection pouring in from Catholic worshippers and world leaders alike.