Mon Feb 24 08:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Pope Francis’ Condition Remains Critical Amid Kidney Failure Diagnosis
**Rome, Italy** – Pope Francis, 88, is battling a “complex” health situation at a Rome hospital, the Vatican announced Sunday. In addition to a serious respiratory illness that led to a critical condition on Saturday, the pontiff has been diagnosed with early-stage, mild kidney failure. While the kidney ailment is currently under control, the overall clinical picture remains critical, according to his doctors.
The Vatican reported that the Pope’s respiratory crisis has not recurred and that he remains alert and oriented. He even celebrated Mass in his hospital suite with medical staff. Although blood tests revealed the early stages of kidney failure, they also showed an improvement in his anemia. He continues to receive high levels of supplemental oxygen.
The doctors cite the complexity of his condition and the time needed for treatments to take effect as the reasons for the critical prognosis. Prayers for the Pope’s recovery have poured in globally, with Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York publicly acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding the Pope’s prognosis in a Sunday homily.
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