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| Pope Francis suffers two episodes of ‘acute respiratory failure’ | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Pope has been in Rome’s Gemelli hospital for more than two weeks with pneumonia | Pope has been in Rome’s Gemelli hospital for more than two weeks with pneumonia |
| Pope Francis, who has been in hospital with pneumonia for more than two weeks, suffered two episodes of “acute respiratory failure” on Monday, the Vatican said. | Pope Francis, who has been in hospital with pneumonia for more than two weeks, suffered two episodes of “acute respiratory failure” on Monday, the Vatican said. |
| The pontiff, 88, had returned to a stable condition during the weekend after a breathing crisis that caused him to vomit on Friday. The Vatican said the episodes on Monday were caused by “significant accumulation of endobronchial mucus and a consequent bronchospasm”. | |
| “Two bronchoscopies were therefore performed, requiring aspiration of abundant secretions,” the Vatican said. “In the afternoon, non-invasive mechanical ventilation was resumed.” | “Two bronchoscopies were therefore performed, requiring aspiration of abundant secretions,” the Vatican said. “In the afternoon, non-invasive mechanical ventilation was resumed.” |
| The Vatican added that the pope “has always remained vigilant, oriented and collaborative”. Medics’ prognosis remains “guarded”, meaning the pope is not yet out of danger. | |
| Francis was admitted to hospital on 14 February with bronchitis, but his condition deteriorated into pneumonia in both lungs. On 22 February, he suffered a prolonged asthma-style attack and required blood transfusions for a low platelet count. After a few days last week of showing a “slight” improvement, the pope had an episode akin to an asthma attack on Friday that also caused him to inhale vomit. | Francis was admitted to hospital on 14 February with bronchitis, but his condition deteriorated into pneumonia in both lungs. On 22 February, he suffered a prolonged asthma-style attack and required blood transfusions for a low platelet count. After a few days last week of showing a “slight” improvement, the pope had an episode akin to an asthma attack on Friday that also caused him to inhale vomit. |
| He is prone to lung infections because he developed pleurisy as a young adult and had part of one lung removed while he was training to be a priest in his native Argentina. Medical experts have said that Francis’s age and the chronic respiratory disease from which he suffers mean a sustained recovery will take time. | He is prone to lung infections because he developed pleurisy as a young adult and had part of one lung removed while he was training to be a priest in his native Argentina. Medical experts have said that Francis’s age and the chronic respiratory disease from which he suffers mean a sustained recovery will take time. |
| In a message shared on X on Sunday, the pope thanked well-wishers for their support after missing his Angelus blessing for a third week in a row. Nightly prayer vigils for the pope’s health are continuing to take place at St Peter’s Basilica as well as in towns and cities across Italy and abroad. | In a message shared on X on Sunday, the pope thanked well-wishers for their support after missing his Angelus blessing for a third week in a row. Nightly prayer vigils for the pope’s health are continuing to take place at St Peter’s Basilica as well as in towns and cities across Italy and abroad. |
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| Before his hospital admission, the pope maintained an intense schedule, especially with events related to the Catholic jubilee year. | Before his hospital admission, the pope maintained an intense schedule, especially with events related to the Catholic jubilee year. |
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