Pope Francis suffers new breathing crises, is back on non-invasive ventilation - Vatican

Pope Francis suffered two new episodes of acute respiratory crises Monday and was put back on non-invasive mechanical ventilation, the Vatican said.

Francis had inhaled “copious” amounts of mucus in another setback in what has become a more than two-week battle to overcome a complex respiratory infection and pneumonia.

In a late update, the Vatican said the episodes were caused by a “significant accumulation” of mucus in his lungs and bronchial spasms.

“Two bronchoscopies were performed with the need for aspiration of copious secretions,” the Vatican said.

Earlier Monday, Pope Francis issued a new message from the hospital as Vatican officials begged him to let his voice be heard after disappearing from public view for over two weeks as he recovers.

Francis, 88, denounced the “progressive irrelevance” of international organizations to combat war as he remained at Rome's Gemelli hospital in stable condition.

He was up, had breakfast and was receiving therapies after sleeping “well all night long," the Vatican said.

The Vatican hasn’t released any photos or videos of Francis since before he entered the hospital on February 14 with a complex lung infection. This has become the longest absence of his 12-year papacy.