Pope Francis was in critical condition Saturday after he suffered a prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis while being treated for pneumonia and a complex lung infection, the Vatican said.

The 88-year-old pope, who remains conscious, received 91裸聊视频渉igh flows91裸聊视频� of oxygen to help him breathe. He also received blood transfusions after tests showed low counts of platelets, which are needed for clotting, the Vatican said in a late update.

91裸聊视频淭he Holy Father91裸聊视频檚 condition continues to be critical, therefore, as explained yesterday (Friday), the pope is not out of danger,91裸聊视频� the statement said. It was the first time 91裸聊视频渃ritical91裸聊视频� had been used in a written statement to describe Francis91裸聊视频� condition since he was hospitalized Feb. 14.

The statement also said that the pontiff 91裸聊视频渃ontinues to be alert and spent the day in an armchair although in more pain than yesterday.91裸聊视频� Doctors declined to offer a prognosis, saying it was 91裸聊视频渞eserved.91裸聊视频�

Doctors have said Francis91裸聊视频� condition is touch-and-go, given his age, fragility and pre-existing lung disease.

They have warned that the main threat facing Francis would be the , a serious infection of the blood that can occur as a complication of pneumonia. As of Friday, there was no evidence of any sepsis, and Francis was responding to the various drugs he is taking, the pope91裸聊视频檚 medical team said in their first in-depth update on the pope91裸聊视频檚 condition.

Saturday91裸聊视频檚 blood tests showed that he had developed a low platelet count, a condition called platelopenia or thrombocytopenia. Platelets are cell-like fragments that circulate in the blood that help form blood clots to stop bleeding or help wounds heal. Low platelet counts can be caused by a number of things, including side effects from medicines or infections, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

Francis, who has chronic lung disease and is prone to bronchitis in winter, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on Feb. 14 after a .

Doctors first diagnosed the and then the onset of pneumonia in both lungs. They prescribed 91裸聊视频渁bsolute rest91裸聊视频� and a combination of cortisone and antibiotics, along with supplemental oxygen when he needs it. Saturday91裸聊视频檚 update marked the first time the Vatican has referred to Francis suffering an 91裸聊视频渁sthmatic respiratory crisis of prolonged magnitude, which also required the application of oxygen at high flows.91裸聊视频�

Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the head of medicine and surgery at Rome91裸聊视频檚 Gemelli hospital, said Friday the biggest threat facing Francis was that some of the germs that are currently located in his respiratory system pass into the bloodstream, causing sepsis. Sepsis can lead to organ failure and death.

91裸聊视频淪epsis, with his respiratory problems and his age, would be really difficult to get out of,91裸聊视频� Alfieri told a news conference Friday at Gemelli. 91裸聊视频淭he English say 91裸聊视频榢nock on wood,91裸聊视频� we say 91裸聊视频榯ouch iron.91裸聊视频� Everyone touch what they want,91裸聊视频� he said as he tapped the microphone. 91裸聊视频淏ut this is the real risk in these cases: that these germs pass to the bloodstream.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淗e knows he91裸聊视频檚 in danger,91裸聊视频� Alfieri added. 91裸聊视频淎nd he told us to convey that.91裸聊视频�

Meanwhile, the Vatican hierarchy went on the defensive to tamp down rumors and speculation that Francis might decide to resign. There is no provision in canon law for what to do if a pope becomes incapacitated. Francis has said that he has written a letter of resignation that would be invoked if he were medically incapable of making such a decision. The pope remains fully conscious, alert, eating and working.

The Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, gave a rare interview to Corriere della Sera to respond to speculation and rumors about a possible resignation. It came after the Vatican issued an unusual and official denial of an Italian media report that said Parolin and the pope91裸聊视频檚 chief canonist had visited Francis in the hospital in secret. Given the canonical requirements to make a resignation legitimate, the implications of such a meeting were significant, but the Vatican flat-out denied that any such meeting occurred.

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Parolin said such speculation seemed 91裸聊视频渦seless91裸聊视频� when what really mattered was the health of Francis, his recovery and return to the Vatican.

91裸聊视频淥n the other hand, I think it is quite normal that in these situations uncontrolled rumors can spread or some misplaced comment is uttered. It is certainly not the first time it has happened,91裸聊视频� Parolin was quoted as saying. 91裸聊视频淗owever, I don91裸聊视频檛 think there is any particular movement, and so far I haven91裸聊视频檛 heard anything like that.91裸聊视频�

Deacons, meanwhile, were gathering at the Vatican for their special Holy Year weekend. Francis got sick at the start of the , the once-every-quarter-century celebration of Catholicism. This weekend, Francis was supposed to have celebrated deacons, a ministry in the church that precedes ordination to the priesthood.

In his place, the Holy Year organizer will celebrate Sunday91裸聊视频檚 Mass, the Vatican said. And for the second consecutive weekend, Francis will skip his traditional Sunday noon blessing, which he could have delivered from Gemelli if he were up to it.

91裸聊视频淟ook, even though he91裸聊视频檚 not (physically) here, we know he91裸聊视频檚 here,91裸聊视频� said Luis Arnaldo L贸pez Quirindongo, a deacon from Ponce, Puerto Rico, who was at the Vatican on Saturday for the Jubilee celebration. 91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 recovering, but he91裸聊视频檚 in our hearts and is accompanying us, because our prayers and his go together.91裸聊视频�

Nicole Winfield And Silvia Stellacci, The Associated Press