Pope Francis suffered a respiratory crisis and his condition remains critical, according to a medical bulletin issued by the Vatican Press Office on Saturday evening.
    "The condition of the Holy Father continues to be critical.
    "Therefore, as explained yesterday, the Pope is not out of danger.
    "This morning, Pope Francis presented a prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis, which also required the application of high-flow oxygen", the Vatican said in the bulletin.
    "Today's blood tests moreover showed a thrombocytopenia, associated with anaemia, which required the administration of blood transfusions", it continued.
    The Vatican however said the pontiff continued to remain alert and spent the day in an armchair, although he was "more uncomfortable than yesterday".
    "At the moment, the prognosis is reserved", the bulletin concluded.
    The pontiff was admitted to Rome's Agostino Gemelli Hospital on Friday, Februaty 14 with bronchitis which turned into pneumonia in both lungs.
    On Friday afternoon, the head of the medical team treating the pontiff, Professor Sergio Alfieri, said that he was not out of danger but he was not in a life-threatening condition.
   

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