Pope Francis had an “isolated breathing crisis” in hospital yesterday, the Vatican said, in a setback as the 88-year-old pontiff battles double pneumonia.
The Pope, 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,” said the latest detailed update about the pontiff’s condition, describing a constriction in the pope’s respiratory airways akin to an asthma attack.
The Pope, it said, also had “an episode of vomiting with inhalation and a sudden worsening of the respiratory condition.” He then received aspiration to help remove the vomit from his airways, which was followed by “non-invasive mechanical ventilation,” it said.
Pope Francis “has remained alert and well-oriented” and is continuing his treatments, the statement said.
Yesterday’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.
A Vatican official said the pope’s breathing issue yesterday did not last a long time.
The ventilation the Pope received involved the used of a light mask over his nose and mouth, said the official.
His doctors are expected to take 24-48 hours to evaluate how the episode will impact the state of his clinical condition, the official said. The Pope has not been listed in critical condition for the past two days.
The Vatican has not said how long the Pope will remain in hospital, but it announced yesterday that he would not lead the annual Church service next week to open the Christian season of Lent.
The March 5 service, known as Ash Wednesday, starts the 40-day period leading up to Easter Sunday. It will instead be entrusted to a senior Vatican official.
Yesterday, the Vatican released a papal letter to participants in a Church training course in Rome, which was signed by Pope Francis with a note to say it was sent “from Gemelli hospital”.
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