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Pope Francis “slept all night” and is continuing to rest, the Vatican said in a one-line statement after the pontiff, 88, suffered two episodes of acute respiratory failure on Monday.
The pope, who has pneumonia in both lungs, has been at the Gemelli hospital in Rome for more than two weeks.
The situation has been touch and go, with the pontiff resuming non-invasive, mechanical ventilation to aid breathing after the latest setback, which was caused by “significant accumulation of endobronchial mucus and a consequent bronchospasm”, the Vatican said.
A further update is expected later on Tuesday.
The pope also suffered a bronchospasm, an asthma-style attack that caused him to vomit, on Friday. That episode followed a prolonged breathing crisis on 22 February, which required blood transfusions for a low platelet count.
Francis is prone to lung infections because he developed pleurisy as a young adult and had part of one lung removed while he was training to be a priest in his native Argentina.
Nightly prayer vigils for the pope’s health continued to take place at St Peter’s Basilica as well as in towns and cities across Italy and abroad. Vigils have also been held outside the Gemelli, which has long been the preferred hospital for pontiffs.
The pope has suffered from ill-health in recent years. He was admitted to hospital in March 2023 for what was eventually diagnosed as pneumonia. He also underwent a colon operation in June 2021. The pontiff has often been seen using a wheelchair or a walking stick as a result of sciatic nerve pain and a knee problem.
Before his hospital admission, the pope maintained an intense schedule, especially with events related to the Catholic jubilee year.
Francis, born Jorge Bergoglio, missed his traditional Angelus prayer for a third straight Sunday and the Vatican issued a written text instead.
In it, the pope thanked well-wishers for their prayers, saying: “I feel all your affection and closeness and, at this particular time, I feel as if I am ‘carried’ and supported by all God’s people. Thank you all.”
