Doctors have reported that Pope Francis is showing early signs of kidney insufficiency while continuing to battle pneumonia and a complex lung condition. The Vatican stated that, despite his critical condition, he was resting on Monday morning after a stable night.
On Sunday, medical updates indicated that blood tests had revealed early-stage kidney insufficiency, though it remained under control. Doctors noted that the pope had not experienced any further respiratory crises since Saturday and was well enough to attend Mass at the hospital.
The 88-year-old pontiff remains on high-flow supplemental oxygen and is alert and responsive. However, doctors have provided a cautious outlook, emphasising that his age, frailty, and pre-existing lung condition make his situation unpredictable. The primary concern is the potential onset of sepsis—a life-threatening infection that can develop as a complication of pneumonia.
The Vatican’s official updates, including Sunday’s statement, have not mentioned sepsis as a current issue.
Monday marks the pope’s 10th day in the hospital, tying his longest hospitalisation since 2021, when he spent 10 days at Rome’s Gemelli hospital following surgery to remove 33 centimetres of his colon.
Meanwhile, prayers and well wishes for Pope Francis have poured in from around the world, spanning from his homeland of Argentina to the heart of Sunni Islam in Cairo and even from schoolchildren in Rome.
