Pope Francis live health updates as Vatican confirm critical condition

, the head of the Catholic Church, remains in a critical condition with kidney failure, the Vatican has announced.

The 88-year-old pontiff has received treatment for and a complex lung infection for 11 days at Rome's Gemelli hospital earlier this month and warned close confidantes he may not survive.

Appointed pope in 2013, Francis has led a relatively progressive but controversial papacy that has seen women accede to key roles, the recognition of + rights and the Vatican begin to address Catholic Church child abuse scandals.

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