Pope Francis stable, no repeat of breathing crisis – Vatican

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.