Pope Francis, 88, has had a “peaceful night” after an isolated breathing crisis in hospital, according to the Vatican. The pontiff was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on February 14th due to breathing difficulties and pneumonia.
The Pope received gas through a face mask to help him breathe following a coughing episode that caused bronchospasm. He has been battling pneumonia for two weeks.
On Friday, he experienced an isolated crisis of bronchospasm, which led to vomiting and a sudden worsening of his respiratory condition. However, the Vatican said he responded well to treatment, including non-invasive mechanical ventilation.
Vatican sources earlier stated that the Pope’s doctors needed 24-48 hours to determine if there was any damage or setback to his overall condition. The pontiff remains alert and in good spirits despite his health struggles.
The Pope has been under medical care for pneumonia since February 22nd, when he experienced a respiratory crisis and was listed as being in a “critical” condition. However, the Vatican said he had not presented any further respiratory crises and released an update saying he was resting peacefully on Saturday.
Pope Francis’s health issues are caused by his history of pleurisy – an inflammation of the lungs – which led to the removal of part of one lung as a young man. The pontiff has been hospitalized multiple times during his tenure, including being treated for bronchitis in March 2023.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd655917g6qo