Pope had restful night but condition remains critical: Vatican

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) – Pope Francis had a restful night but his condition remains critical, the Vatican said on Wednesday.

He had another good night at Rome's Gemelli Hospital and continues to rest, the Vatican Press Office said in a statement.

It added that the pope’s condition remains critical but stable while receiving treatment for double pneumonia.

The 88-year-old pontiff has been at Gemelli Hospital since Feb. 14 and is being treated for double pneumonia.

On Sunday, the Vatican issued a statement saying Francis had received blood transfusions to bring up his hemoglobin level.

The same day, the pope attended Mass in his apartment at Gemelli with the doctors and nurses who are overseeing his treatment, Vatican News reported.

Pope Francis was elected Pope Benedict XVI’s successor at the age of 76 in 2013, and selected the name Francis in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, who took a vow of poverty.