Pope Francis experienced a bronchial spasm on Friday, which led to him inhaling vomit and necessitated the use of non-invasive mechanical ventilation.
However, he responded positively and remained conscious and alert throughout the incident, according to the Vatican.
This situation, reported by the Vatican late Friday, has led medical professionals to maintain a cautious outlook regarding his recovery from a two-week struggle with double pneumonia.
Expressions of support continued to emerge. In Mexico City, a small group gathered at the cathedral on Thursday evening to pray for the pope’s healing.
“He feels like a member of our family,” remarked Araceli Gutiérrez, who cherishes the memory of meeting the pope during his visit to Mexico in 2016, a country with nearly 100 million Catholics. “This is why we are so worried about him.”
María Teresa Sánchez, visiting from Colombia with her sister, expressed her deep connection to Francis, the first pope from Latin America.
“It feels like having a relative among the divine,” she stated. “He has contributed immensely to religion; he embodies humility.”
