Calgary Catholics say a prayer for ailing Pope Francis

Pope Francis delivers his speech as he presides over a Vespers celebration in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) (Andrew Medichini/AP)

Calgary Catholics were holding out hope Sunday as word spread of the deteriorating health of Pope Francis.

The 88-year-old pope was in critical condition after he suffered a prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis while being treated for pneumonia and a complex lung infection, the Vatican said.

“The Holy Father’s condition continues to be critical, therefore, as explained yesterday (Friday), the pope is not out of danger,” the Vatican statement said. It was the first time “critical” had been used in a written statement to describe Francis' condition since he was hospitalized Feb. 14.

Vatican doctors described Francis’ condition as touch-and-go, considering his age, fragility and pre-existing lung disease.

Outside Sacred Heart Church and Columbarium on 14 Street S.W., Phillippe Nennau said he was rooting for the pope to recover – but that it would be difficult.

“It’s a terrible thing but he is 88 years old and had previous health issues,” Nennau said. “Everybody of the Catholic faith would be rooting for him and hoping he gets better.

“Its unfortunate for anybody,” he added. “But at that age, it’s tough. Its just tough.”

Another visitor to Sacred Heart, Nicola Walker, said the Catholic community would rally to pray for the pope.

“One thing about the pope is he has a very strong community behind him,” Walker said. “Everyone’s coming together for him, and acting as a family to pray for him and hope for the best.”

“It’s definitely devastating,” Walker added, “but again, with faith, with praying and with God’s help, the best can come out of this.”

Threat of sepsis

Vatican doctors warned that the main threat facing the pope is the onset of sepsis, a serious infection of the blood that can take place as a complication from pneumonia.

Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the head of medicine and surgery at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, said Friday the biggest threat facing Francis was that some of the germs that are currently located in his respiratory system pass into the bloodstream, causing sepsis. Sepsis can lead to organ failure and death.

“Sepsis, with his respiratory problems and his age, would be really difficult to get out of,” Alfieri told a news conference Friday at Gemelli. “The English say ‘knock on wood,’ we say ‘touch iron.’ Everyone touch what they want,” he said as he tapped the microphone. “But this is the real risk in these cases: that these germs pass to the bloodstream.”

“He knows he’s in danger,” Alfieri added. “And he told us to convey that.”

With files from The Associated Press and CTV’s Tyler Barrow