The Catholic Church leader suffered a bronchospasm and is not yet out of danger.
Pope Francis suffered a bronchospasm which led to a sudden worsening of his respiratory condition – the Holy See announced on Friday evening based on information from the doctors at the Gemelli clinic.
Pope Francis was subjected to non-invasive mechanical ventilation, to which the patient responded positively – the statement reads.
The Church leader was alert and “cooperated during the therapeutic intervention”.
The doctors continue to refrain from making any predictions regarding the development of the Pope’s health condition.
The Holy See press centre emphasised that the bronchospasm occurred at two o’clock in the afternoon. They added that the doctors will be able to provide more precise information on the development of the situation in the next 24-48 hours.
The clinical picture remains complex, the Pope is not yet out of danger – it was stated. They emphasised that following the intervention the Pope’s breathing normalised. The Holy See spokesman recalled that Pope Francis last suffered a respiratory crisis on Saturday evening.
Pope Francis has been at the Gemelli clinic since 14 February. In St Peter’s Square, from Monday onwards every day Cardinal Victor Emanuel Fernandez, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, leads the repeated rosary prayer for the recovery of Pope Francis and all the sick, on Friday evening.
Gábor Szűcs is currently an analyst at the 21st Century Institute and a political commentator for Megafon.
