The Sat Report: Pope Francis remains stable after suffering two episodes of respiratory failure on Monday
Pope still in a critical condition and needs our prayers
Pope Francis is in a stable condition, after suffering two episodes of respiratory failure on yesterday. He did not go into respiratory failure or bronchospasm (a coughing fit) today. The Vatican says his heart, kidney, and blood markers are stable too.
The Holy Father is alternating between high flow oxygen during the day, and non-invasive mechanical ventilation, most probably BiBap, at night. Perhaps he should have been on BiPAP on admission. Perhaps he should have been on BiBAP prior in Casa Santa Marta. Receiving BiBAP only at night is pretty standard care, that millions of people who suffer with conditions like obstructive sleep apnoea have daily.
During the day, the Pope spent his time resting and at prayer, which is certainly going to help his recovery. In hindsight he probably shouldn’t have have spent so much time earlier in this admission at ‘work’, though the fact that he isn’t spending some part of his day at work now may be an indicator of his true condition.
The Pope’s clinical situation is still very complex, and the next milestone as far as the doctors are concerned will be the chest CT either tomorrow or Thursday to see the progression of the bilateral pneumonia.
Tomorrow we enter the Holy Season of Lent, with are Holy Father ailing, lets us offer our fasting and abstinence for his intentions.
Here is today’s statement from the Holy See Press Office in full:
The clinical condition of the Holy Father today has remained stable.
He has not experienced episodes of respiratory failure or bronchospasm.
He has remained without a fever, always alert, cooperative with therapies, and oriented.
This morning he transitioned to high-flow oxygen therapy and underwent respiratory physiotherapy.
As scheduled, tonight he will resume non-invasive mechanical ventilation until tomorrow morning.
During the day, he alternated between spending time in prayer and at rest, and this morning he received Holy Communion.
This evening the ninth of the nightly rosaries for the health of Pope Francis has held in St. Peter’s Square, tonight led by Arthur Cardinal Roche, Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, with the some of the Roman Curia and most of the other Cardinals resident in Rome in attendance.
Let us all please continue to pray for the Pope, whose condition is critical, during this very trying time for him.
Oremus pro Pontifice nostro Francisco. Dominus conservet eum, et vivificet eum, et beatum faciat eum in terra, et non tradat eum in animam inimicorum eius.