Pope Francis’s health worsened significantly Friday afternoon as his respiratory condition was irritated and necessitated the return of mechanical ventilation. Earlier in the day, the pontiff “experienced an isolated episode of bronchospasm,

The Vatican has announced that the respiratory condition of Pope Francis has worsened following an isolated bronchospasm. This is according to a statement by the Holy See Press Office on Friday, February 28,

According to a Feb. 28 medical bulletin from the Holy See, after a morning spent in prayer, receiving the Eucharist, and doing respiratory physiotherapy, Pope Francis experienced in the early afternoon “an isolated crisis of bronchospasm” — a tightening of the muscles that line the airways in the lungs, causing wheezing and coughing.