MxM News
Pope Francis in critical condition after suffering respiratory crisis
MxM News
Quick Hit:
Pope Francis is in critical condition after suffering a severe respiratory crisis that required oxygen treatment, the Vatican announced Saturday. The pontiff, who was hospitalized a week ago with a lung infection, has also received blood transfusions due to anemia. Doctors caution that while he is stable, he is not out of danger.
Key Details:
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The Vatican stated that Francis is alert and spent much of the day in an armchair, though he is experiencing more pain than the previous day.
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Earlier this month, doctors diagnosed Francis with bilateral pneumonia, affecting both lungs. While he is responding to treatment, his medical team warns that he is still at risk.
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Vatican officials confirmed that Holy Year celebrations are continuing as planned. A designated organizer will lead Sunday’s Mass in Francis’ place.
Diving Deeper:
Pope Francis is in critical condition following a serious respiratory crisis that required oxygen support, the Vatican said Saturday. The 88-year-old pontiff was hospitalized a week ago at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital due to a complex lung infection and later received blood transfusions after tests revealed anemia.
Doctors monitoring Francis said he slept well overnight but is facing increasing discomfort. “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 Vatican said in a statement. Physicians expect him to remain in the hospital for at least another week.
Francis’ medical team, which includes specialists in cardiology and infectious diseases, emphasized that he has shown no signs of sepsis—a life-threatening infection—but remains vulnerable. His personal physician, Dr. Luigi Carbone, cautioned that Francis is in a fragile state. “He is not out of danger. Like all fragile patients, I say they are always on the golden scale: In other words, it takes very little to become unbalanced.”
Doctors have prescribed cortisone, antibiotics, and supplemental oxygen while ordering him to rest. Despite these concerns, Francis has continued working from his hospital room. However, sepsis remains a major risk, as bacteria from the lungs could enter the bloodstream and cause organ failure.
Even as the pope battles his illness, Vatican celebrations for the Holy Year are continuing as planned. Organizers confirmed that Sunday’s Mass will proceed without him, with a substitute leading the service. Pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square offered prayers for the pope’s recovery.
Doctors warn that Francis’ recovery will take time, and he will continue to live with chronic respiratory issues. “He has to get over this infection, and we all hope he gets over it,” said Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the head of medicine and surgery at Gemelli Hospital. “But the fact is, all doors are open.”
Quick Hit:
President Trump announced Wednesday he will designate Antifa a “MAJOR TERRORIST ORGANIZATION,” calling it a “sick, dangerous, radical left disaster” and vowing to investigate its funders. The move follows Charlie Kirk’s assassination by a suspect tied to extremist leftist ideology.
Key Details:
- On Truth Social, Trump wrote: “I am pleased to inform our many U.S.A. Patriots that I am designating ANTIFA, A SICK, DANGEROUS, RADICAL LEFT DISASTER, AS A MAJOR TERRORIST ORGANIZATION.”
- Trump added that he would recommend “those funding ANTIFA be thoroughly investigated in accordance with the highest legal standards and practices.”
- Antifa, short for “anti-fascist,” has no formal leadership structure but is known for violent clashes with police and for stoking riots at protests. Trump said earlier this week he was “100%” in favor of labeling the group as a terror organization.
Diving Deeper:
President Trump on Wednesday escalated his administration’s push against violent left-wing groups by declaring that Antifa will be designated as a “major terrorist organization.” Posting the announcement on Truth Social, Trump described the group as “a sick, dangerous, radical left disaster” and emphasized that investigations into Antifa’s backers should begin immediately. “I will also be strongly recommending that those funding ANTIFA be thoroughly investigated in accordance with the highest legal standards and practices,” Trump said.
The decision follows mounting calls for action in the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination last week. Authorities have identified the suspect, Tyler Robinson, as a 22-year-old who was “deeply indoctrinated with leftist ideology.” The tragedy has intensified pressure on the administration to act against groups viewed as fueling extremist violence.
Antifa, which stands for “anti-fascist,” is less a formal organization than a loose movement. Its members, often dressed in black and masked, are notorious for showing up at protests to provoke violent clashes with law enforcement and political opponents. While its supporters describe the group as anti-authoritarian, critics point out its consistent record of property destruction, rioting, and violent confrontations.
Trump had previewed the move earlier in the week, telling reporters he was “100%” supportive of officially designating the group as a terrorist organization. The announcement also aligns with Trump’s longstanding campaign promise to crack down on lawlessness and protect communities from radical ideologies.
By targeting Antifa not just in name but by directing legal scrutiny toward its funding networks, Trump is signaling a more aggressive federal posture toward violent left-wing movements. The designation would allow federal authorities to treat Antifa’s activities with the same severity reserved for foreign terrorist groups, widening the scope of investigations and penalties against those linked to its operations.
(AP Photo/Gillian Flaccus)
Quick Hit:
Chaos followed the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk when police first arrested a 71-year-old man who confessed he was only trying to distract them from the real shooter.
Key Details:
- George Zinn, 71, was arrested after yelling, “I shot him, now shoot me!” but later admitted he was trying to mislead police.
- The real suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, was arrested Thursday night and identified publicly Friday morning.
- Zinn was charged with obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony, while Robinson faces charges as the alleged assassin.
Diving Deeper:
Charlie Kirk, one of the most prominent young leaders in the conservative movement, was assassinated in a brazen political attack that shocked supporters nationwide. Instead of immediately capturing the real suspect, police initially detained George Zinn, a man with a long history of causing disruptions at political events and protests.
Video of Zinn being handcuffed quickly spread, leading many to believe the threat had been neutralized. But Zinn’s arrest was a diversion — one that he admitted to orchestrating in order to shield the real shooter. He told police he wanted to “draw attention from the real shooter,” an action that delayed accountability and nearly allowed a dangerous criminal to evade justice longer.
Zinn’s background only adds to the picture. As the Salt Lake Tribune noted, he has a history of disrupting events — from political speeches to cultural gatherings like the Sundance Film Festival. His disruptive activism fits a pattern of left-wing agitators who thrive on chaos, and in this case, he played a role in protecting an assassin.
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