Pope Francis in Critical Condition; Vatican: He Spent a Calm Night

Pope Francis, hospitalized due to severe pneumonia in both lungs, spent a calm night and is currently resting. According to AFP, the Vatican announced this on Monday amid global concerns about the health of the 88-year-old leader of the Catholic Church. The Pope's condition has worsened, with warnings about the risk of blood infection. Pope Francis was admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital on February 14 due to respiratory issues, and since then, his physical condition has gradually deteriorated. Initially, doctors diagnosed bronchitis, but his illness progressed to severe pneumonia. On Saturday, the Vatican announced for the first time that his condition was critical. The Vatican reported that the Pope continues to use 'high-flow' oxygen through a nasal tube, and blood tests have indicated that mild kidney failure has occurred in the early stages but is currently under control. Professor Sergio Alfieri, head of the medical team at Gemelli Hospital, warned in a press conference that the main danger in such conditions is the spread of bacteria to the blood and the risk of blood infection (sepsis), which can be fatal. Dr. Abelle Donati, head of the anesthesia and intensive care department at Marche University Hospital, also told the newspaper 'Corriere della Sera': 'Kidney failure can be an early sign of blood infection.' Global concern and prayers for the Pope's recovery have been widespread, with many citizens gathering at Gemelli Hospital to pray for his health and light candles. The Vatican also announced that the Pope participated in a Mass in his special room on the tenth floor of the hospital on Sunday. Concerns about the Pope's condition have intensified as he lost part of one of his lungs in his youth, which could complicate his treatment. Discussions about the possibility of Pope Francis resigning have reignited due to his deteriorating health. The Pope had previously indicated that he might follow in the footsteps of Benedict XVI, the former Pope who resigned in 2013 due to health issues. However, he has repeatedly emphasized in recent months that the time for resignation has not yet come. Antonio Spadaro, a priest close to the Vatican, stated in an interview with 'La Repubblica': 'Now is not the time to talk about resignation. The Pope is still alert and fulfilling his duties from the hospital.' Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller also emphasized in an interview with 'Corriere della Sera': 'The Pope is alive; now is the time for prayer, not thinking about his successor.' Nevertheless, he added: 'We will all die someday. The Pope has a special mission, but he is human too.' The condition of Pope Francis remains critical, and concerns about the future leadership of the Catholic Church are increasing. The Vatican has stressed that he spent a calm night but is still undergoing treatment, and the risks of 'sepsis' and kidney failure persist. While many religious leaders and Catholics around the world pray for the Pope's recovery, the shadow of his potential resignation looms over the Vatican. Pope Francis has been in critical condition for the second consecutive day, and his health has worsened; the Vatican reports that his health is in critical condition, and the Pope's illness has become more complicated, leading to the cancellation of Vatican programs.