Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, Archbishop of Bologna, led a prayer on February 23, 2025 for Pope Francis who remains in a critical condition for a second day running has shown an "initial, slight insufficiency" in his kidney function, the Vatican said on Sunday.

The prognosis for the 88-year-old pope, who required a transfusion of two units of blood on Saturday (February 22) after experiencing a "prolonged asthma-like respiratory crisis," remains "guarded", according to the latest medical update.

During the prayer he said the churches in Italy, in these coming days "will gather in so many ways always in the sweet company of Mary to intercede for the Pope's recovery."

Double pneumonia is a serious infection that can inflame and scar both lungs, making it difficult to breathe. The Vatican has described the pope's infection as "complex", saying it is being caused by two or more microorganisms.

Archbishop Rino Fisichella, a senior Vatican official, told participants at a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica on Sunday morning they should make their prayers for Francis "stronger and more intense".

The Diocese of Rome, which the pope leads, held a special Mass on Sunday evening to pray for Francis, so that he will have "the strength necessary to get through this moment of trial".

(production: Matteo Negri, Yvonne Bell)