Pope Suffers Setback Following “Isolated Breathing Crisis”

ROME – The Vatican revealing that Pope Francis, who has been battling double pneumonia in hospital for two weeks, had an “isolated breathing crisis” and received “non-invasive mechanical ventilation” to help him breathe earlier today.

The Vatican describing the incident as a setback, following an announcement just hours earlier that the Pope had a peaceful night in hospital Thursday and his condition was believed to be improving past the most critical phase.

The 88-year-old pontiff said to have experienced an “isolated bronchospasm crisis,” a constriction in the Pope’s respiratory airways akin to an asthma attack.

The Pope has been in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital after being admitted on February 14 with a severe respiratory infection that triggered other complications.