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

(BBC) 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 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”.

Referring to the Pope’s peaceful night, a Vatican official added: “I think he had coffee this morning.”

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.

“The Holy Father was promptly bronchoaspirated and began non-invasive mechanical ventilation, with a good response to gas exchange.”

Vatican sources said the latest crisis happened at about 14:00 local time on Friday, but did not say how long it lasted.

The latest episode comes after a couple of days in which Vatican statements had been slightly more positive, talking of a “slight improvement” in the pontiff’s condition.

He was given Communion on Friday morning.

In an earlier medical update, the Vatican stressed that the Pope would remain in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital because of the “complex” clinical picture.

The level of detail from Vatican officials about the Pope’s latest crisis is extraordinary.

This is now the longest the Pope has been in hospital – and the longest period in which he’s been out of public sight – since he took over from Pope Benedict in 2013.

That makes many Roman Catholics nervous.

Previously, Italian TV channels were reporting that the Pope was “no longer critical”, as that word disappeared from Vatican health updates recently and the Pope’s health slipped down the news agenda.

Now it’s back on the front pages, although news of the Ukrainian president’s brutal dressing down in the Oval Office is the biggest story.

“Another crisis, Anxiety for the Pope” is today’s headline for Il Messaggero, which also speaks of “prayers and tears” among Catholics gathered for evening prayers outside St Peter’s Basilica.

“Vomit and breathing crisis: Anxiety for the Pope returns” is the headline in Il Giornale.

The Pope was admitted to hospital on 14 February after experiencing breathing difficulties for several days.

He was first treated for bronchitis before being diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs.

Then, on 22 February, the Vatican said that the Pope had experienced a respiratory crisis and was in a “critical” condition, but later on Sunday released an update saying that he had “not presented any further respiratory crises”.

The following day, the Pope issued a statement asking Catholics to pray for him after he was unable to deliver the traditional Angelus prayer in person for the second week running.

But, while the Vatican said the Pope’s health is improving, it added that “further days of clinical stability are necessary to resolve the prognosis”.