ROME — Pope Francis rested early Tuesday after he suffered further setbacks in his fight against double pneumonia: two new acute respiratory crises that required him to resume using noninvasive mechanical ventilation to breathe. In its early Tuesday update, the Vatican said: “The pope slept through the night, now rest continues.”

The 88-year-old pontiff has been hospitalised since 14 February with pneumonia in both lungs and breathing difficulties. View on euronews

Pope Francis experienced more respiratory problems and went on noninvasive ventilation on Monday, the Vatican said, as the head of the Roman Catholic Church battles double pneumonia in the hospital.