Pope Francis suffers setback requiring ventilation, Vatican says
FILE - Pope Francis waves as he arrives on his popemobile to lead his weekly audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, on Wednesday, March 29, 2023. (Alessia Pierdomenico/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Pope Francis suffered a bronchial spasm on Friday that resulted in him breathing in vomit, requiring non-invasive mechanical ventilation, the Vatican said in relaying a setback in his two-week long battle against double pneumonia.
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
The Vatican says the 88-year-old pope responded well, with a good level of gas exchange, and remained conscious and alert at all times.
The development marked a setback in what had been two successive days of increasingly upbeat reports from doctors treating Francis at Rome’s Gemelli hospital since Feb. 14.
The afternoon episode resulted in a "sudden worsening of the respiratory picture."
Doctors decided to keep his prognosis guarded.