
Flowers, balloons, candles and different objects are laid exterior Gemelli hospital in Rome, on Feb. 26, the place Pope Francis is being handled.
Claire Harbage/NPR
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Claire Harbage/NPR
ROME — Pope Francis skilled additional respiratory bother and went on noninvasive air flow on Monday, the Vatican mentioned, as the top of the Roman Catholic Church battles double pneumonia within the hospital.
The pope suffered two episodes of acute respiratory disaster, with a “vital accumulation” of mucus in his lungs and bronchial spasms, the Vatican mentioned in an announcement.
It mentioned Francis then underwent two bronchoscopies to attempt to take away the big mucus secretions. He then obtained noninvasive mechanical air flow.
The developments come because the 88-year-old pontiff entered a 3rd week in Rome’s Gemelli hospital. He was hospitalized on Feb. 14 following a bout of bronchitis.
“The Holy Father remained alert, oriented and cooperative always,” the assertion mentioned Monday. “The prognosis stays guarded.”