Vatican says pope’s respiratory condition worsens

Pope Francis has suffered a setback in hospital, the Vatican said.

The 88-year-old “experienced an isolated episode of bronchospasm,” according to a medical bulletin published Friday evening.

Bronchospasm occurs when the muscles that line the bronchi in the lungs tighten.

This led to an episode of him vomiting and “a sudden worsening of his respiratory condition,” the bulletin added. Pope Francis was given non-invasive mechanical ventilation.

“He has remained alert and aware at all times, cooperating with therapeutic treatments.”

But the prognosis “remains guarded,” the bulletin concluded

Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, has been treated at Rome’s Gemelli Rome for two weeks now, suffering from bilateral pneumonia.

In the past few days, the daily evening bulletins had reported a slight improvement.