After Pope Francis suffered a setback on Friday, doctors said it would take 24 to 48 hours to determine whether the crisis has worsened his condition. The Vatican said on Saturday that he was stable.
The Catholic world is gripped with uncertainty as Pope Francis, 88, remains in a Rome hospital because of a complex lung infection and other serious ailments.
The Vatican said on Saturday that the pope remained stable after a bronchial spasm a day earlier had required him to undergo noninvasive mechanical ventilation. On Saturday, the Vatican said he was alternating that ventilation with long periods of high-flow oxygen therapy.
He had no fever and his blood work “remained stable.” Francis had spent about 20 minutes praying in the chapel attached to his room, the Vatican added.
The prognosis remained guarded, the Vatican said, and doctors still say that the pope is not out of danger.
The previous night’s potentially serious setback had followed several days of improvements. On Thursday, his clinical condition had improved enough for him to move out of critical condition.
Here’s what we know about his condition, and about how things would go should he die.
Here’s what you need to know:
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