Today's Edition
ROME (AFP)
Pope Francis passed a calm day in hospital Tuesday with no repeat of the previous day's respiratory crises, but the 88-year-old will wear an oxygen mask overnight, the Vatican said.
The head of the Catholic Church has been in Rome's Gemelli hospital since February 14 for treatment of double pneumonia in both lungs.
Francis had suffered Monday "two episodes of acute respiratory failure", the Vatican said, his third breathing crisis since February 22.
"Today the clinical conditions of the Holy Father remained stable. He did not present episodes of respiratory failure or bronchospasm," the Vatican said in its regular evening update Tuesday.
Francis, born Jorge Bergoglio in Argentina, had no fever and was "alert" and cooperating with his treatment, the Vatican said, but as in previous days it said the prognosis "remains reserved", an indication that doctors cannot predict the likely outcome.
On Tuesday morning, a Vatican spokesman said Francis had switched from an oxygen mask to high-flow oxygen delivered through a cannula, a plastic tube inserted through the nostrils.
But "tonight, as planned, non-invasive mechanical ventilation will be resumed until tomorrow morning", the statement said, referring to the mask.
