VATICAN CITY, Rome — Pope Francis remains in critical condition as he battles pneumonia in both lungs, with the Vatican confirming Sunday, February 23, 2025, that blood tests have detected mild signs of kidney failure.
While the 88-year-old pontiff’s condition remains serious, the Vatican stated that the renal issues are currently under control, and no further respiratory crises have occurred since Saturday evening.
Vatican Issues New Update on Pope’s Health
According to a Vatican statement, Francis continues to receive oxygen therapy and participated in a private Holy Mass on Sunday morning from his hospital apartment on the 10th floor of Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.
Medical staff caring for him also took part in the service.
“The complexity of the clinical picture, and the necessary wait for pharmacological therapies to provide some feedback, require that the prognosis remain reserved,” the Vatican said, signaling ongoing caution regarding his recovery.
Doctors Monitoring Pope’s Kidney Function
Earlier on Sunday, the Vatican confirmed that Francis had required high-flow oxygen therapy due to a respiratory crisis but had since stabilized.
Despite the news of early-stage renal failure, Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, a specialist in kidney surgery at Orlando Health Medical Group Urology, told CNN that there is no immediate cause for alarm.
“I don’t think it’s anything significant per se, but we can tell his condition is still quite critical,” Brahmbhatt said. “The kidneys themselves are very delicate organs, but they’re also very resilient.”
Pope Cancels Weekly Angelus Prayer for Third Time in Papacy
For only the third time in his nearly 12-year papacy, Pope Francis was unable to deliver the traditional Angelus prayer on Sunday.
Instead, he sent a written message thanking medical staff for their dedication and assuring the faithful that his treatment continues.
His condition had appeared to improve earlier in the week, with the Vatican describing his response to treatment as ‘positive’ on Thursday.
However, his hospitalisation has now extended beyond 10 days, making this the longest hospital stay of his papacy.
Francis’ History of Respiratory Illnesses
Pope Francis has a history of lung complications that have made him particularly vulnerable to respiratory infections.
As a young man in Argentina, he suffered a severe bout of pneumonia, leading to the partial removal of one lung.
More recently, he has faced a series of health challenges, including:
- 2021: Surgery to remove part of his colon due to diverticulitis.
- 2023: Hospitalized with bronchitis and treated with intravenous antibiotics.
- Recent months: Two falls, resulting in a bruised chin and a sling for his arm.
Pope Francis Continues Working Despite Doctor’s Orders for ‘Complete Rest’
Despite doctors advising absolute rest, the pope has continued some work from his hospital bed.
In his first two days of hospitalisation, he maintained his daily phone calls to Rev. Gabriel Romanelli and Father Yusuf Asad in Gaza City, where he has been closely following the humanitarian crisis.
According to Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni, Francis has also continued to sign off on Vatican decisions, though only his closest aides have been permitted to visit him.
On Wednesday, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met with the pope for 20 minutes and later reassured the public about his condition.
“We joked as always. He hasn’t lost his proverbial sense of humour,” Meloni said in a statement.
What’s Next?
Doctors continue to monitor the pope’s kidney function and respiratory stability while awaiting further progress from his pharmacological treatment.
For now, Pope Francis remains in critical but stable condition, with Vatican officials carefully managing expectations about his recovery timeline.
