Pope Francis has 'mild' kidney failure: What is it?

(NEXSTAR) — Doctors revealed Sunday that blood tests for Pope Francis, the 88-year-old pontiff who has been hospitalized since Valentine's Day after a weeklong bout of bronchitis worsened, show early kidney failure.

Every day, roughly 360 people in the U.S. begin treatment (either dialysis or a transplant) for kidney failure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A patient is considered to be experiencing kidney failure if under 15 percent of their kidney is "working normally," the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases says.

Some of Pope Francis' blood tests showed “initial, mild, kidney failure,” but doctors said it was under control. The Vatican did not provide any details about Pope Francis' condition or what treatment, if any, he was receiving for his kidney failure.

Candles are seen near pictures of Pope Francis outside the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, where the Pontiff is hospitalized since Feb. 14. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

There are some early warning signs of kidney failure — fatigue, nausea, vomiting, confusion, difficulty concentrating, swelling, change in urination frequency, cramps, dry skin, and food tasting metallic among them — but they may go unnoticed early on, per the Cleveland Clinic.

During kidney failure, one or both of a person's kidneys will no longer function well on their own, the Cleveland Clinic explains. In some cases, kidney failure is temporary and develops quickly. In others, it can be a long-term condition that worsens over time.

Should the condition worsen, it can reach end-stage kidney disease, or ESKD. This stage, according to the Cleveland Clinic, is deadly without the proper treatment. With it, however, patients can "have a good quality of life while [they] manage kidney failure."

While doctors did not indicate what may have caused Francis' kidney failure, the National Kidney Foundation says diabetes and high blood pressure comprise roughly two-thirds of cases. Other potential causes include various forms of kidney damage and genetic disorders.

Those experiencing kidney failure may be at a higher risk of experiencing heart disease, stroke, and anemia, among other complications. Francis developed anemia and, during blood transfusions on Saturday, was given hematin, a treatment designed to increase the level of hemoglobin in his blood, which in turn helps the blood carry more oxygen. Doctors reported Sunday that the therapy had been beneficial.

The National Kidney Foundation notes that high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke can both cause kidney disease and occur as a result of it.

There is no cure for kidney failure but treatment plans, medications, eating plans, and an active lifestyle can help those living with it, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases explains.

The life expectancy of someone experiencing kidney failure can vary depending on "many things," the American Kidney Fund says, including age and treatment plan.

The Vatican described Francis as remaining in critical condition but alert and "well-oriented" on Sunday, adding that he attended Mass. He had also not experienced any more respiratory crises since Saturday night but was still receiving high flows of supplemental oxygen.

“The complexity of the clinical picture, and the necessary wait for drug therapies to provide some feedback, dictate that the prognosis remains guarded,” Francis' doctors concluded.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Topics

Pope Francis remains 'critical' and has kidney problem, Vatican says

The pontiff "continues to be alert and well oriented" and has not had any further respiratory crises, the Vatican said.
BBC News - 3h
Pope Francis in critical condition with pneumonia and kidney issues, Vatican says

Pope Francis remains in critical condition as he receives treatment for double pneumonia and a mild renal insufficiency, the Vatican shared on Sunday.
NBC News - 4h
Supporters gather to pray for Pope Francis outside hospital

Romans gathered again outside Gemelli Hospital, placing flowers and candles and offering prayers for Pope Francis. The pontiff has been in the hospital nearly a week with pneumonia. Seth Doane ...
CBS News - 2d
Fit for a pontiff: The Roman hospital caring for Pope Francis

The Gemelli hospital has been treating popes for more than thirty years.
BBC News - 1d
Vatican says Pope Francis is in critical condition

The Vatican carried on with its Holy Year celebrations without the pope Saturday, as Pope Francis battled pneumonia and a complex respiratory infection that doctors say remains touch-and-go and ...
NBC News - 1d
Vatican says Pope Francis in 'critical' condition

Pope Francis remains in 'critical' condition after he experienced a severe asthmatic respiratory crisis on Saturday morning, requiring high-flow oxygen therapy, the Vatican said. NBC News’ Claudio ...
NBC News - 23h
Catholics Pray for Ailing Pope Francis at Sunday Mass

The 88-year-old pontiff, who has been hospitalized for more than a week, had a restful night after receiving oxygen and a blood transfusion on Saturday, the Vatican said.
The New York Times - 12h
Pope Francis is in critical condition but alert, Vatican says

Pope Francis, in critical condition battling double pneumonia, had a “tranquil” night, was alert and had rested after a respiratory crisis and blood transfusions, the Vatican said on Sunday.
NBC News - 11h
Pope Francis remains in critical condition, Vatican says

Pontiff had fallen into critical condition, receiving high flows of oxygen and blood transfusions in hospital as he battles complex lung infection . Pope Francis, who is battling pneumonia and a ...
The Guardian - 3h
Pope Francis ‘not yet out of danger’ and to stay in hospital for another week

Chronic illness remains but pontiff, 88, is stable and in good humour, doctor says. Pope Francis, who is in hospital undergoing treatment for double pneumonia, is “not yet out of danger” and will ...
The Guardian - 2d
Pope Francis Is in a ‘Good Mood’ but ‘Not Out of Danger,’ His Doctors Say

As the pope enters his second week in a Rome hospital with a lung infection, his physicians said his condition was critical but not immediately life-threatening.
The New York Times - 2d
Pope Francis' medical team says he is not out of danger yet

Pope Francis' medical team provided a health update as he battles pneumonia in both lungs. CBS News senior foreign correspondent Seth Doane reports.
CBS News - 1d
Pope Francis in critical condition after respiratory crisis, Vatican says

The update came after a Vatican spokesman said the Pope "rested well" overnight.
CBS News - 1d
Pope Francis Put Church Above His Health, Vatican Observers Say

Many who know him said that Francis, driven by a sense of mission and a discipline born of his early training, essentially worked himself into the hospital.
The New York Times - 1d
Pope Francis in Critical Condition After ‘Respiratory Crisis,’ Vatican Says

The announcement on Saturday evening indicated that Francis’ medical condition had become more complicated since an update from his doctors on Friday.
The New York Times - 19h
Pope Francis Had a Restful Night, Still in Critical Condition

The Vatican did not provide further details about the condition of the pope, who has been in the hospital for more than a week.
The New York Times - 14h
Pope Francis shares message after a peaceful night in the hospital

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni's one-line statement early Sunday didn't mention if Francis was out of bed or eating breakfast. "The night passed quietly, the pope rested."
CBS News - 9h
Vatican says Pope Francis is ‘peaceful’ after ‘respiratory crisis’

Catholics around the world are praying for Pope Francis who remains in critical condition at a Rome hospital while battling double pneumonia. The Vatican said on Saturday that the 88-year-old ...
NBC News - 10h
Cousin of Pope Francis says he is 'worried' about pontiff's health

Yahoo News - 6h
Argentina prays for native son Francis, the first Latin American pope in history

Yahoo News - 3h
Pope Francis' condition still 'critical,' Vatican says in latest health update

Pope Francis rested overnight in the hospital, the Vatican said earlier Sunday, adding that his night "passed peacefully."
ABC News - 2h
Argentina prays for native son Francis, the first Latin American pope in history

Catholics from across Argentina have flocked to churches to pray for the recovery of native son Pope Francis, the first Latin American pope in history
ABC News - 3h
Vatican says the pope now has pneumonia in both lungs. How worrying is that?

Vatican officials said that Pope Francis had developed pneumonia in both lungs, further complicating the pontiff’s recovery
ABC News - 4d
Pope has 'peaceful' night after condition described as 'critical'

Pope Francis is "more unwell than yesterday", the Vatican says, adding his prognosis "remains guarded".
BBC News - 14h
Germany has voted. But what kind of government will it have?

The country faces weeks or even months of coalition negotiations after no party won a majority. It has been a extraordinary election in Germany, and the result has been keenly awaited around the ...
The Guardian - 3h
Pope Francis is in critical condition after a long respiratory crisis, requiring oxygen at high flow

The Vatican says Pope Francis is in critical condition after he suffered a long asthmatic respiratory crisis that required high flows of oxygen
ABC News - 1d
Pope Francis' condition remains critical after respiratory crisis, says the Holy See

The Holy See reported that Pope Francis' condition is critical after he suffered a prolonged respiratory crisis on Saturday. Earlier this week, the 88-year-old was diagnosed with double pneumonia. ...
CBS News - 22h
Pope Francis rested during a peaceful night following respiratory crisis and blood transfusion

The Vatican says Pope Francis rested during a peaceful night
ABC News - 15h
What happens to the leadership of the Catholic Church when a pope becomes sick or incapacitated?

What happens when a pope is incapacitated
ABC News - 12h
Texas measles cases are up, and New Mexico now has an outbreak. Here's what you need to know

The measles outbreak in rural West Texas has grown to 58 cases as of Tuesday
ABC News - 5d
Hamas failure to return body is new ceasefire setback

Israel says Hamas will pay the "full price" for handing over a body that it says was not that of Shiri Bibas.
BBC News - 2d
America's Russia policy is a failure of critical thinking and foresight

This persistent inability to appreciate the thinking exposed by another great power is especially striking given that Russia’s policies have not changed at all since the days of Ivan the Terrible ...
The Hill - 1d
Hamas’s failure to return Israeli mother’s body strains ceasefire

A tenuous ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has been strained by outrage over Hamas’s alleged transfer of an unknown body to Israel in the place of Shiri Bibas, the Israeli mother who was ...
The Hill - 2d
The High-Profile Failures of Nikola and Humane Highlight a Danger for Startups

Both Nikola and Humane faced the unique set of challenges that come with being first to market.
Inc. - 11h
Pope asks for prayers in message from hospital

The pontiff is receiving hospital treatment as the Vatican warns his condition is still critical.
BBC News - 9h
America has turned on its friends

Donald Trump’s abandonment of allies is real and will endure
Financial Times - 2d
What now for Wembanyama and the Spurs?

From the draft to the playoff race, here's how Victor Wembanyama's injury affects the NBA.
ESPN - 2d
What it's like to live in Greenland

Yahoo News - 10h