The coughing fit, known as bronchial spasm, forced him to use an oxygen mask on his nose and mouth for the first time after he inhaled vomit into his lungs, the Vatican said.

‘This afternoon… the Holy Father experienced an isolated bronchospasm crisis,’ said the latest detailed update about the pontiff’s condition.

The pope, it said, also had ‘an episode of vomiting with aspiration and a sudden worsening of the respiratory condition.’ He then received the help of ‘non-invasive mechanical ventilation,’ it said.

What else do we know about the pope’s condition?

Francis, 88, has been in Rome’s Gemelli hospital for two weeks, after being admitted on February 14 with a severe respiratory infection that triggered other complications.

Friday’s news came after three days of more positive updates on the pope’s health.

The Vatican has not said how long the pope will remain in hospital, but it announced Friday that Francis would not lead the annual Church service on March 5.

The Ash Wednesday service, which kicks off the 40 days of prayer and fasting leading up to Easter Sunday, will instead be conducted by a senior Vatican official.

Francis, who has served as pope since 2013, continues to lead the Vatican from the hospital.

On Friday, the Vatican shared a papal letter to those participating in a Church training course in Rome. It was signed by Francis with a note indicating it had been sent “from Gemelli hospital.”

Source: dailymail.co.uk; dw.com

On February 23, 2025, Pope Francis addressed the public in two heartfelt messages on X amid his ongoing health crisis. In his first message, he called upon his followers to courageously embody love and positivity in their lives, emphasizing the transformative power of kindness and solidarity.

“I urge you to continue your apostolate with joy and to be a sign of a love that embraces everyone,” the pontiff said, referencing the day’s Gospel reading.

He passionately encouraged his followers, adding, “May we transform evil into goodness and build a fraternal world. Do not be afraid to take risks for love!”

In his second message, Pope Francis expressed profound gratitude for the outpouring of support he has received globally and mentioned how particularly touched he his by gestures from young believers.

He warmly thanked everyone, stating, “Thank you for your closeness, and for the consoling prayers I have received from all over the world!”

These personal messages arrive at a significant moment as the Pope remains hospitalized. Amid Pope Francis penning personal messages to the public, the Holy See Press Office shared an update on the condition of his health via a statement shared on Instagram.

Their statement clarified that Pope Francis remains in critical condition, though his health has stabilized since February 22. The pontiff has not experienced any further respiratory episodes since Saturday evening.

He received two units of concentrated red blood cells, effectively raising his hemoglobin levels. His thrombocytopenia condition remains stable. However, recent blood tests have indicated early signs of mild renal insufficiency, which is currently being managed by his medical team.

Pope Francis continues receiving high-flow oxygen therapy through nasal cannulas and is described as “alert and well-oriented.”

Given the complexity of his condition, Vatican officials stress the prognosis remains guarded, emphasizing the necessity of time for ongoing treatments to fully take effect.

Remarkably, Pope Francis participated in Holy Mass on Sunday morning from his apartment on the tenth floor, joined by the caregivers who have attended to him throughout his hospitalization.

At the same time, Cardinal Timothy Dolan urged attendees of his homily on Sunday to pray for and with the Pope. He also revealed that no one at the Vatican has publicly confessed that Pope Francis may not recover from his condition.

“We of the Catholic family, and so many of our friends and neighbors find ourselves this morning at the bedside of a dying father. As our Holy Father, Pope Francis is in very, very fragile health and probably close to death,” disclosed Cardinal Dolan.

Such updates from Cardinal Dolan, the Holy See Press Office, and the messages from Pope Francis come after the Vatican News shared a previous update on his health. They reported that the Pope would be admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic hospital after his morning audiences on February 14.

Source: news.amomama.com

Sunday morning’s update from the Vatican was brief, saying: “The night passed peacefully, the pope rested.”

In a statement released on February 22, the Vatican said the Pope had “a prolonged episode of asthma-like shortness of breath” in the morning, which required him to receive “high-flow oxygen.” In addition to supplemental oxygen, the Pope also received a blood transfusion after tests showed he had low platelets. The statement said the Pope is currently in critical condition.

This is the first time the Vatican has used the word “critical” when describing the Pope’s health condition since he was admitted to hospital on February 14 after suffering from breathing difficulties for several days. X-rays later showed that the Pope had pneumonia.

As of February 23, Pope Francis had spent his ninth consecutive night in the hospital. A Vatican statement released on Sunday morning confirmed that he continued treatment for double pneumonia at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.

During a press conference, Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the head of the Pope’s medical team, and Dr. Luigi Carbone, the Vice-Director of Vatican healthcare services, addressed journalists for approximately forty minutes.

They noted that the Pope was expected to remain hospitalized for at least another week. While they reassured the public that he was not in immediate danger of death, they emphasized that he was also not fully out of danger.

Dr. Alfieri clarified that Pope Francis was not on a ventilator but continued to struggle with breathing, requiring him to limit physical movement.

Despite this, he remained engaged and continued his work. In a lighthearted exchange, when a doctor greeted him by saying, “Hello, Holy Father,” the Pope reportedly responded with, “Hello, Holy Son.”

Medical experts expressed their primary concern regarding the risk of a bacterial infection entering his bloodstream, which could lead to sepsis.

However, Dr. Alfieri remained optimistic that Pope Francis would eventually be discharged and return to Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican. He cautioned, however, that the Pope’s chronic respiratory issues would persist even after his hospital stay.

According to sources familiar with the situation, Pope Francis has been enduring severe pain and has privately conveyed doubts about his chances of recovery.

On Sunday, doctors at Gemelli Hospital made the difficult decision to prevent him from delivering his usual morning Angelus sermon—a rare occurrence, even during previous hospital stays. Insiders say the Pope is now strictly following medical directives, a significant shift from his usual determination to maintain his routine.

This is not the first time Pope Francis has faced serious health challenges. In March 2023, he was hospitalized for several days due to a respiratory infection.

The Vatican revealed that he had been experiencing breathing difficulties and was admitted to Gemelli Hospital for medical tests. Doctors ruled out COVID-19 but determined that he required an extended hospital stay for specialized treatment.

During his recovery, the Pope expressed his gratitude for the support and prayers he received from around the world. A few months later, in June 2023, he was again hospitalized, this time for abdominal surgery to address a painful incisional hernia.

Source: news.amomama.com; abs-cbn.com