Pope Francis remains 'critical' and has kidney problem, Vatican says

Pope Francis remains in a "critical" condition, but "has not presented any further respiratory crises", the Vatican said in a statement on Sunday.

He was still receiving high-flow oxygen therapy and had undergone blood transfusions. Blood tests also showed he had "initial, mild, renal insufficiency" - a kidney problem - that is "currently under control", the statement said.

The Vatican said he "continues to be alert and well oriented".

The Pope was admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital on 14 February after experiencing breathing difficulties for several days, where he was first treated for bronchitis before being diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs.

On Sunday, the Pope's thrombocytopenia - a condition that occurs when the platelet count in the blood is too low - was stable, the statement said.

In the morning, the Pope "participated in the Holy Mass, together with those who are taking care of him during these days", the statement continued.

The Vatican did not offer a prognosis given the "complexity of the clinical picture".

The new statement comes after the Vatican said on Saturday that the Pope had experienced a respiratory crisis and was in a "critical" condition.

Earlier on Sunday, the Pope issued a statement asking Catholics to pray for him after he was unable to deliver the traditional Angelus prayer in person for the second week running.

The pontiff is particularly susceptible to pneumonia, an infection of the lungs that can be caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi, after he contracted pleurisy - an inflammation of the lungs - as a young man and underwent a partial lung removal.

The leader of the Roman Catholic church has been admitted to hospital multiple times during his 12-year tenure, including being treated for bronchitis at the same hospital in March 2023.

From Argentina, Pope Francis is the first Latin American, and first Jesuit, to lead the Roman Catholic Church.