Vatican says Pope health in critical condition

The Vatican has described the Pope's condition for the first time as "critical" as he remains in hospital with a complex lung infection. ITV News' Ellie Pitt reports from Rome

Pope Francis is in a critical condition after he suffered a long asthmatic respiratory crisis that required high flows of oxygen, The Vatican says.

The 88-year-old, who has been hospitalised at Rome’s Gemelli hospital for a week with a complex lung infection, also received blood transfusions after tests showed a condition associated with anemia, the Vatican said in a late update.

“The Holy Father continues to be alert and spent the day in an armchair although in more pain than yesterday.

"At the moment the prognosis is reserved,” the statement said.

The latest update from the Vatican comes just one day after his medical team's first public news conference which said his condition was not life-threatening but that he was also "not out of danger."

On Friday, Dr. Luigi Carbone said: "like all fragile patients I say they are always on the golden scale: In other words, it takes very little to become unbalanced."

Doctors said Francis would remain in hospital for at least another week.

The Vatican carried on with its Holy Year celebrations without the pope on Saturday.

In a brief earlier update on Saturday, Francis slept well overnight.

But doctors had warned that the main threat facing the Pope would be the onset of sepsis. a deadly infection of the blood.

As of Friday, there was no evidence of any sepsis, and Francis was responding to the various drugs he is taking,

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know...