Pope Francis suffers two episodes of 'acute respiratory failure'

The Vatican said the respiratory distress was caused by “a significant accumulation of mucus in the bronchi, leading to bronchospasm.” As a result, Pope Francis underwent two bronchoscopy procedures, during which doctors removed a buildup of secretions.

"On the afternoon of March 3, Pope Francis continued to use a non-invasive ventilator," according to the Vatican.

"It was a complicated afternoon," the Vatican stressed, adding that the prolonged acute respiratory failure had passed and the Pope was resting.

The Vatican added that the Pope was "alert, oriented and cooperative". Doctors' prognosis for Pope Francis' health remains cautious, meaning he is not out of danger.

The Vatican added that Pope Francis' blood test results had not changed, indicating that he did not have a high white blood cell count. This signaled no new infection and that the mucus buildup was simply a consequence of the Pope's previous bout with pneumonia.

In addition, the Vatican said the cause of "two episodes of acute respiratory failure" was the bronchial reaction, trying to push out accumulated mucus to remove bacteria.

Pope Francis has been hospitalized at Rome's Gemelli Hospital since mid-February with pneumonia in both lungs. The Vatican will release updates on the Pope's health twice a day.

CNN quoted medical experts as saying that Pope Francis' age and the chronic respiratory illness he suffers from mean that a long recovery will take time.