Pope Francis is alert after suffering two episodes of "acute respiratory failure" on Monday afternoon, the Vatican has said. Doctors were forced to intervene to clear mucus from the Pope's lungs, an update from the Holy See said, though it said he was alert throughout.

Pope Francis suffered two episodes of "acute respiratory insufficiency" on Monday, the Vatican said, a setback for the 88-year-old pontiff as he battles double pneumonia. Francis, who has been in Rome's Gemelli Hospital since February 14,