Vatican says pope, hospitalized with pneumonia, suffered isolated breathing ‘crisis’

Pope Francis, in hospital with pneumonia, suffered a bronchial spasm today that resulted in him breathing in vomit, requiring non-invasive mechanical ventilation, but he responded well and remained conscious and alert at all times, the Vatican says.

Francis, 88, has been in Rome’s Gemelli hospital for two weeks, after being admitted on February 14 with a severe respiratory infection that triggered other complications.

“This afternoon…the Holy Father experienced an isolated bronchospasm crisis,” says the latest detailed update about the pontiff’s condition.

The pope, it says, also had “an episode of vomiting with aspiration and a sudden worsening of the respiratory condition.” He then received the help of “non-invasive mechanical ventilation,” it says.

Francis, says the statement, “has remained alert and well-oriented” and is continuing his treatments.

Friday’s news followed three days of more positive updates, with the Vatican saying previously that the pope had been showing a “slight improvement” as he fights what has been termed a “complex” infection caused by two or more micro-organisms.