In pictures: Catholics pray for Pope Francis as he remains in critical condition

Pope Francis‘s ninth night in hospital passed peacefully after a respiratory attack that sparked alarm, the Vatican said Sunday, although the 88-year-old is still using oxygen through a tube to the nostrils.

The Vatican had on Saturday night warned that the condition of the pope, who is suffering from double pneumonia, was “critical” after he suffered a prolonged asthma-style attack and required blood transfusions for a low platelet count.

The Vatican‘s morning update was brief, saying only: “The night passed peacefully, the pope rested.”

Nuns pray in front of a picture of Pope Francis outside the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome, February 23, 2025. © Gregorio Borgia, AP

Yet Vatican sources pointed to this as evidence of no repeat of the crisis that occurred on Saturday at the Gemelli hospital, although he is still receiving oxygen through a cannula.

In a message published in lieu of his weekly Sunday Angelus prayer, which he normally delivers from a window overlooking St Peter’s Square, Francis thanked medical staff.

People pray at the statue of John Paul II outside the Gemelli hospital where Pope Francis is hospitalized in Rome on February 22, 2025. © Alberto Pizzoli, AFP

“I am confidently continuing my hospitalisation at the Gemelli Hospital, carrying on with the necessary treatment – and rest is also part of the therapy!” he said in the message written in the past few days.

“I ask you to pray for me,” he concluded in the message that was written in “recent days”.

Suffering more

Francis, who has been head of the Catholic Church since 2013, was initially admitted to the Gemelli – which has a special suite for popes – on February 14 with bronchitis.

In its evening update Saturday, the Vatican warned the pope had suffered a difficult day and his “condition continues to be critical, therefore … the pope is not out of danger”.

Nuns sing at the statue of John Paul II on February 22, 2025 outside the Gemelli hospital where Pope Francis is hospitalized in Rome. © Alberto Pizzoli, AFP

It said Francis was alert and “spent the day in an armchair even if he was suffering more than” the day before.

It said the Jesuit had a “prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis, which also required the application of high-flow oxygen”.

Daily blood tests also “showed thrombocytopenia, associated with anaemia, which required the administration of blood transfusions”, it added.

“The pope gets worse,” headlined Italy’s Corriere della Sera newspaper on Sunday, while La Repubblica described it as the “darkest day” at the Vatican.

Violetta from Poland and her daugther Maria show a drawing for Pope Francis outside the Gemelli hospital where Pope Francis is hospitalized for pneumonia, in Rome on February 23, 2025. © Alberto Pizzoli, AFP

Prayers for the pope

As well as missing the Angelus prayers, Francis asked a senior prelate to take his place leading a morning mass Sunday as part of celebrations for the Jubilee 2025, a Catholic Holy year.

“Even though he is in a hospital bed we feel him close to us,” Rino Fisichella said before reading out the homily at St Peter’s Basilica, offering prayers for Francis in this “moment of trial”.