Pope has ‘peaceful night’ after breathing crisis, says Vatican

Pope Francis, who has been battling pneumonia for two weeks, has had an “isolated” breathing crisis in hospital, the Vatican has said.

It led to an episode of vomiting and a “sudden worsening of his respiratory condition” on Friday following the coughing “bronchospasm”.

The 88-year-old’s lungs had to be aspirated – cleared of the vomit – and he received gas through a face mask to help him breathe.

In an update on Saturday, the Vatican said the Pope had a “peaceful night and is resting”.

Earlier, Vatican sources said the Pope’s doctors needed 24 to 48 hours to determine whether there had been any damage or setback to his condition.

They were not giving any prognosis, but said the Pope remained alert and “in good spirits”.

In a statement on Friday, the Vatican said: “In the early afternoon of today, after a morning spent alternating respiratory physiotherapy with prayer in the chapel, the Holy Father presented an isolated crisis of bronchospasm which, however, led to an episode of vomiting with inhalation and sudden worsening of the respiratory condition.