The emergency reported Saturday, when
Pope Francis suffered a respiratory crisis, is substantially
over after he spent a quiet night at the Policlinico Agostino
Gemelli Hospital, Vatican sources said on Sunday.
The pontiff, however, is continuing to receive high flows of
oxygen to help him breathe, they said.
The oxygen is administered through 'nostrils'.
More clinical tests were conducted on Sunday morning and a new
medical update will be released in the evening, the sources
said.
In the pontiff's Angelus address published as a written text
Sunday, he encouraged deacons to continue their service joyfully
and with love and expressed his gratitude to the doctors and
healthcare workers caring for him and for the patients in
hospital.
"I continue confidently with my stay at the Gemelli Polyclinic,
receiving the necessary treatment; and rest is also part of the
therapy!", said the pope.
"I sincerely thank the doctors and healthcare workers at this
hospital for the attention they are showing me" and "for the
dedication with which they carry out their service among the
sick", he noted.
In the text of the Angelus, the pontiff also recalled that
"tomorrow marks the third anniversary of the large-scale war
against Ukraine", calling it a "painful and shameful"
anniversary for humanity.
While expressing closeness to the Ukrainian population, the
pontiff urged to remember the "victims of all armed conflicts
and pray for the gift of peace in Palestine, in Israel, in the
entire Middle East, in Myanmar, in Kivu and in Sudan".
Early on Sunday, the Vatican Press Office said the pope had
spent a quiet night and rested at the Policlinico Agostino
Gemelli Hospital.
The morning update came after the Vatican said on Saturday
evening that the pontiff had suffered a respiratory crisis and
his condition remained critical.
"The condition of the Holy Father continues to be critical",
said the evening bulletin.
"Therefore, as explained yesterday, the Pope is not out of
danger.
"This morning, Pope Francis presented a prolonged asthmatic
respiratory crisis, which also required the application of
high-flow oxygen", the Vatican said Saturday evening.
"Today's blood tests moreover showed a thrombocytopenia,
associated with anaemia, which required the administration of
blood transfusions", it continued.
The Vatican however said the pontiff continued to remain alert
and spent the day in an armchair, although he was "more
uncomfortable than yesterday".
"At the moment, the prognosis is reserved", the bulletin
concluded.
The pontiff was admitted to Rome's Agostino Gemelli Hospital on
Friday, Februaty 14 with bronchitis which turned into pneumonia
in both lungs.
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