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 experienced two episodes of respiratory failure today, March 3. He is once again on mechanical ventilation, according to Vatican News. "Today, the Holy Father experienced two episodes of acute respiratory failure caused by a significant accumulation of endobronchial mucus and subsequent bronchospasm,