Pope Francis “slept through the night” and is now resting after suffering earlier bouts of acute respiratory failure, the Vatican said on Wednesday.
According to the Holy See press office, Pope Francis is still receiving high-flow oxygen through nasal cannulas.
On Monday, the 88-year-old pontiff was having difficulty breathing due to a “significant accumulation of endobronchial mucus and subsequent bronchospasm” that caused bronchial tubes to narrow.
The pope underwent two bronchoscopies “with the need to aspirate the copious secretions,” the Vatican said in a statement. On Monday, doctors resumed non-invasive mechanical ventilation for a short time to facilitate breathing.
Bronchoscopies “were performed with the need to aspirate copious secretions” and “non-invasive mechanical ventilation was resumed in the afternoon.” The prognosis “remains guarded.”
The statement noted that the Pope “remained alert, orientated and cooperative at all times.” Medical staff continue to closely monitor the Holy Father’s condition.
Pilgrims and members of religious orders from around the world continue to gather in front of Rome’s Gemelli hospital, holding “marathon” prayer vigils for Pope Francis following his more than two-week hospitalisation.
