Pope Francis is resting following a coughing fit which saw the head of the Catholic Church inhale vomit that needed to be extracted.
The Holy See press office said in a short media statement on Saturday that the pontiff had a peaceful night and was resting.
The 88-year-old pope who has been hospitalized in Rome since February 14, did not have any further respiratory crises overnight but it would take a couple of days to make the latest assessment of his health, according to Vatican News.
Newsweek has contacted the Vatican for comment.
What To Know
The pope has faced ongoing health struggles which have sparked speculation about decisions by the Catholic Church on the upcoming Easter celebrations.
He was taken into Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on February 14 due to a severe lung infection which had been exacerbated by his preexisting chronic lung condition.
His health took a turn for the worse on Friday due to a bronchial spasm that caused him to inhale vomit, requiring non-invasive mechanical ventilation.
After this procedure, gas exchange values were said to have returned to levels similar to those before the episode but it could take up to 48 hours to be able to assess the pope’s clinical condition, the Associated Press reported.
The Holy See Press Office said on Saturday that the pope had slept well and spent the first part of the morning resting.
He was reading newspapers and had not experienced any further crisis, according to the AP, suggesting that he was not dependent on a ventilation mask to breathe, although his condition remains complex and his prognosis is still guarded.
The Vatican said the episode was different from the prolonged respiratory crisis on February 22 which had caused Francis discomfort.
But Dr. John Coleman, a pulmonary critical care doctor at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, told the AP that the episode on Friday was alarming and showed Francis’ fragility and that his condition “can turn very quickly.”
What People Are Saying
Holy See Press Office statement: “After a quiet night, the Pope is resting.”
Dr. John Coleman, pulmonary critical care doctor at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, told the AP: “This is extremely concerning, given the fact that the pope has been in the hospital now for over two weeks, and now he’s continuing to have these respiratory events.”
What Happens Next
Vatican sources have said the pope is not out of danger and Catholics around the world are praying for their church’s leader. Meanwhile, followers are descending on Rome as the Vatican is marking its Holy Year and questions remain over how the pontiff will lead the church over the Easter period.
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