Had A Breathing Problem, Pope Francis Could Rest But Back Using Ventilators

Gemelli Hospital di Roma, Italia tempat Paus Fransiskus dirawat. (Wikimedia Commons/Sergio DAfflitto)

JAKARTA - Vatican authorities said on Tuesday Pope Francis could rest well, after experiencing respiratory problems on Monday while battling double pneumonia in hospital.

Pope Francis, who has been undergoing treatment at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, Italy since February 14, saw what the Vatican described as two episodes of "acute respiratory insufficiency" on Monday, quoted by Reuters March 4.

They require him to return to using non-invasive mechanical ventilation to help him breathe.

"The Pope sleeps all night and continues to rest," said a line of notes from the Vatican.

Complete medical update on Pope Francis' condition is expected on Tuesday night.

The setback on Monday came after several days of a relatively optimistic statement about his condition.

The Vatican said two respiratory problems on Monday were caused by "significant endobronical mucus accumulation".

The Pope, he said, had suffered from bronospasme, similar to asthma attacks, and had required two bronoscopy, or procedures to check its airways. The Pope's prognosis remains "guarded", a statement said Monday.

A Vatican official, who did not wish to be named because he was not authorized to discuss the Pope's health, said Monday evening that the Pope's blood test that day remained stable.

The Pope's doctor believes it is part of his body's normal response to the fight against infection, the official added.

Pope Francis has not been seen in public since his hospital admission, his longest absence since his papal start in March 2013. The doctor who treated him had not said how long his treatment would take place.

The leader of the World Catholic Church has suffered several poor health attacks over the past two years, prone to lung infection because he has had chest membrane inflammation and part of one of his lungs has been removed.

Double pneumonia is a serious infection in both lungs that can inflame and inflame you, making it difficult to breathe.