Pope Francis no longer needs ventilation after respiratory crisis, Vatican says

Candles and rosaries are left next to the statue of late Pope John Paul II outside Gemelli Hospital, where Pope Francis is admitted for treatment, in Rome, Italy, March 4, 2025. REUTERS/Yara Nardi

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -Pope Francis, who suffered two respiratory crises on Monday as he battles double pneumonia, has stabilised and no longer needs to use mechanical ventilation for help breathing, the Vatican said on Tuesday.

Francis, 88, had been put on non-invasive ventilation on Monday after suffering what was described as two episodes of "acute respiratory insufficiency" that day.