ROME — Pope Francis rested early Tuesday after he suffered further setbacks in his fight against double pneumonia: two new acute respiratory crises that required him to resume using noninvasive mechanical ventilation to breathe. In its early Tuesday update, the Vatican said: “The pope slept through the night, now rest continues.”

Pope Francis rested well overnight, the Vatican said on Tuesday, after the 88-year-old pontiff suffered a setback a day earlier as he battles double pneumonia in hospital. Francis, who has been in Rome's Gemelli Hospital since February 14,

Pope Francis, 88, has been hospitalised with acute respiratory failure since February 14. Despite his health challenges, he continues to work from his hospital.