Pope Francis' respiratory condition 'suddenly worsens'

In an update on February 28, the Vatican said the Pope had inhaled vomit, causing his respiratory condition to “suddenly deteriorate.” Pope Francis then underwent bronchial aspiration and non-invasive ventilation, which resulted in his gas exchange becoming more stable.

The Pope remains conscious and well-oriented, but his prognosis "remains uncertain," according to the Vatican.

According to ABC News, it will take 24 to 48 hours to diagnose the impact of the cough and whether it has adversely affected the patient's general condition. The Vatican press office said on February 28 that the Pope had a peaceful evening of rest and is continuing his recovery in the hospital.

The incident comes after Pope Francis' health showed signs of "slight" improvement, meaning his condition is no longer considered critical.

Earlier, the Vatican said Pope Francis' health continued to show signs of improvement on February 27, when he had to alternate between high-flow oxygen therapy and a breathing mask. The Pope's mild kidney failure, which had been monitored for the past few days, has improved.

"Because his clinical condition is very complex, it will take several more days for his condition to stabilize further before a precise prognosis can be made," the Vatican said.

It is unclear how long Pope Francis will be in hospital. The Vatican has announced that Francis will not preside over a church service on March 5 to mark the beginning of Lent. Pope Francis was admitted to hospital on February 14 and diagnosed with a respiratory infection and pneumonia.