The Vatican on Tuesday called the health condition of Pope Francis "guarded" and "complex" as he remained in a stable condition with double pneumonia, according to officials.

Time-honored rituals, drafted and refined over centuries, allow time for mourning and provide order at a dramatic moment of transition.

Pope Francis' condition remained stable on Tuesday, and his prognosis remains reserved, according to the Vatican. The pope had needed medical intervention amid two episodes of "acute respiratory failure" on Monday,

The frail 88-year-old Catholic leader suffered further setbacks in what has become a more than two-week battle to overcome a complex respiratory infection.

The pope may have turned a corner as the Vatican said he had no new respiratory crisis on Tuesday and that he remains stable. The Associated Press reported that Pope Francis will sleep with a ventilation mask. He is breathing with the help of high-flow supplemental oxygen via nasal cannula after two respiratory crises on Monday.

Pope Francis has been placed back on mechanical ventilation following medical episodes after 17 days in the hospital. The Vatican announced in

Pope Francis suffered two new acute respiratory crises Monday and was put back on noninvasive mechanical ventilation, in another setback to his battle to fight pneumonia, the Vatican said. Doctors extracted “copious” amounts of mucus from his lungs during two bronchoscopies,

The health of Pope Francis is causing increasing concern. Disturbing information is coming from the Vatican about the deteriorating condition of the Holy Father. Is the Vatican preparing for a conclave?