Pope in critical condition: treatment for acute respiratory distress

Pope in critical condition: treatment for acute respiratory distress

Vatican City, February 22, 2025 – Pope Francis' health has deteriorated again. According to a statement from the Vatican, the Holy Father was treated for severe asthmatic shortness of breath on Saturday morning, which required the use of oxygen. He also needed a blood transfusion because his platelet count had dropped due to anemia. "The Holy Father's condition remains critical and he is not out of danger," said the OFFICIAL STATEMENT from the Vatican press office. Despite these challenges, the pope is alert and responsive, but spends the day in pain and uncertainty about his prognosis.

Francis has been being treated in Rome's Gemelli Clinic for a complex infection of the respiratory tract and lungs for over a week. The doctors have already adjusted his therapy twice, which recently led to a slight improvement in his blood values. The greatest danger to the Pope is blood poisoning, underscoring the urgency of medical care, such as Kathpress reported.

The new basic law of the Vatican City

In addition to the current news about the Pope's health, the Basic Law of the State of Vatican City of 2023 was announced last year, which newly regulates the legal framework of the small state. This new basic law replaces the previous one from 2000 and strengthens the role of the Pope as the sole sovereign, combining legislative, executive and judicial functions in one person. The legal framework of the Vatican State therefore remains stable, even during the uncertain health situation of the Pope, as in the comments Wikipedia explained.