Pope Francis had a restful night and is continuing to recover after experiencing a bronchospasm, the Holy See Press Office confirmed on Saturday morning.
“After a quiet night, the Pope is resting,” the brief statement read, adding that he slept well and spent the morning recuperating. The Vatican also noted that the Pope’s condition remains “complex,” though he has not experienced further crises since Friday’s respiratory episode, Vatican News reported.
On Friday evening, the Vatican had reported that Pope Francis suffered a bronchospasm, leading to a temporary worsening of his respiratory condition. He was immediately placed on non-invasive mechanical ventilation, which helped stabilise his gas exchange levels.
Doctors at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where the Pope has been admitted since 14 February for bilateral pneumonia, stated that a further 24 to 48 hours are needed to properly assess his clinical progress.
Despite the guarded prognosis, the Pope was able to have breakfast, drink coffee, and read newspapers on Saturday morning, according to the Vatican.