Pope Francis has again been afflicted with acute breathing problems and has been placed on a respirator.
"Today, the Holy Father experienced two episodes of acute respiratory failure, caused by a significant accumulation of mucus in his lungs and leading to spasms in the airways", according to a statement from the Vatican State.
In the afternoon, the Pope was able to breathe again with the help of an oxygen mask, and he is, according to the bulletin, "alert and focused".
The 88-year-old Pope has been struggling to recover from bilateral pneumonia over the past two weeks, and the situation has been described as critical on several occasions.
The Pope was admitted to Gemelli Hospital in Rome on February 14.
