Pope Francis Faces New Respiratory Setbacks During Hospitalization

The 88-year-old pontiff experienced two episodes of acute respiratory failure as his recovery from pneumonia extends beyond two weeks.

Pope Francis suffered two episodes of acute respiratory failure on Monday, requiring non-invasive mechanical ventilation and bronchoscopies to clear mucus accumulation.
The Vatican reports that the pope remains alert and cooperative, but his prognosis is described as guarded as he battles pneumonia and a complex respiratory infection.
This marks the 18th day of hospitalization at Rome's Gemelli hospital, making it the longest hospital stay of his 12-year papacy.
Despite his condition, the pope issued a message denouncing the declining effectiveness of international organizations in addressing global conflicts.
The Vatican has not released photos or videos of the pope since his hospitalization began, defending his choice to recover privately out of the public eye.