Pope had ‘tranquil’ night in hospital, Vatican says

Pope Francis had a “tranquil” night and rested in hospital, the Vatican has said.

The 88-year-old has been in hospital for more than a week being treated for double pneumonia and chronic bronchitis.

On Saturday night, the Vatican said the pope was in a critical condition after a “prolonged respiratory crisis” that required a high-flow of oxygen.

He also had blood transfusions after tests revealed thrombocytopenia, which is associated with anaemia.

In an update earlier on Saturday morning – the shortest since Francis was admitted to hospital on 14 February – the Vatican said he will not lead Sunday prayers for the second week running, adding: “The Pope rested well.”

Francis is likely to prepare a written homily for someone else to read at Sunday’s Angelus.

Millions of people around the world have been concerned about the Pope’s increasingly frail health – and his condition has given rise to speculation over a possible resignation, which the Vatican has not commented on.

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Doctors on Friday said he was “not out of danger” and was expected to remain at Rome’s Gemelli hospital for at least another week.

Sergio Alfieri, the chief of the pontiff’s medical team, said: “Is he out of danger? No. But if the question is ‘is he in danger of death’, the answer is ‘no’.”

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