UPDATE: The Holy See Press Office, in a statement on Saturday, March 1, morning said that Pope Francis slept well and spent the first part of the morning resting.
“After a quiet night, the Pope is resting”, read the brief statement.
On Friday,the Holy See Press Office had announced that the respiratory condition of Pope Francis had worsened following an isolated bronchospasm.
The office said that the Pontiff was promptly started on non-invasive mechanical ventilation, to which he is responding.
An isolated bronchospasm is a sudden, temporary narrowing of the airways (bronchi) due to muscle contraction, without any underlying chronic respiratory condition like asthma or COPD.
“The Holy Father, this afternoon, after a morning spent alternating between respiratory physiotherapy and prayer in the chapel, experienced an isolated episode of bronchospasm. This caused an episode of vomiting, which led to him inhaling some and a sudden worsening of his respiratory condition,” read part of the statement.
According to the Vatican News, Pope Francis was promptly subjected to bronchial aspiration (to clear his airways) and was put on non-invasive mechanical ventilation, which improved his oxygen levels.
“He has remained alert and aware at all times, cooperating with therapeutic treatments. The prognosis, therefore, remains guarded. In the morning, he received the Eucharist,” the statement adds.
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The Holy See Press Office statement came as the Pope continues to be treated for bilateral pneumonia in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. He was admitted on Friday, February 14, following an infection of the respiratory tract.
Pope Francis condition worsens
Vatican News reported that about 24 to 48 hours will be needed to be able to assess the clinical condition of Pope Francis following the isolated bronchospasm episode.
“Thanks to non-invasive mechanical ventilation, gas exchange values are reported to have returned to levels similar to those before the episode.”
The Vatican has not said how long the pope will remain in hospital, but ion Friday, it announced that the pope would not lead the annual Church service next week to open the Christian season of Lent.
The March 5 service, known as Ash Wednesday, starts the 40-day period leading up to Easter Sunday. It will instead be entrusted to a senior Vatican official.
Francis, who has been pontiff since 2013, has continued leading the Vatican from the hospital. Staff appointments requiring his approval are announced daily.
Pope diagnosed with pneumonia
The update comes after Vatican announced on Tuesday, February 18, that Pope Francis has developed double pneumonia.
Also Read: Pope Francis: Why His Papacy Matters for Africa
According to a Vatican statement, a chest CT scan conducted on Tuesday afternoon showed the onset of bilateral pneumonia, requiring additional medication.
Pneumonia is an infection that inflames the air sacs in the lungs, which can fill with fluid or pus, making it difficult to breathe. When the infection affects both lungs, it’s called “double pneumonia” or “bilateral pneumonia”.
“A follow-up chest CT scan, to which the Holy Father was subjected this afternoon—prescribed by the Vatican medical team and the medical staff of the “A. Gemelli” Polyclinic Foundation—revealed the onset of bilateral pneumonia, requiring additional pharmacological therapy,” read the statement in part.
“Laboratory tests, chest X-rays, and the clinical condition of the Holy Father continue to present a complex picture.”
The Holy Father had been suffering from bronchitis for several days, as he had noted during a couple of public audiences.
The Holy See Press Office had on February 6, released a statement noting that the Pope was suffering from bronchitis and would hold his audiences at his residence in the Casa Santa Marta.
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