Pope Francis remains in ‘critical condition’ with ‘early kidney failure’ – UK Times

Pope Francis remains in critical condition, with blood tests now showing he has early kidney failure, the Vatican has said.

In the late update on Sunday, the Vatican added that the 88-year-old pontiff remains alert as he continues to battle pneumonia and a complex lung infection.

Francis had not had any more respiratory crises since Saturday night but was still receiving high flows of supplemental oxygen, said the Vatican.

Some blood tests showed “initial, mild, kidney failure”, but doctors said it was under control.

The decreased platelet count, necessary for clotting, that was first detected on Saturday was stable.

“The complexity of the clinical picture, and the necessary wait for drug therapies to provide some feedback, dictate that the prognosis remains reserved,” the doctors concluded.

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