Pope Francis stable a day after respiratory crisis, Vatican says

Nuns pray for Pope Francis in front of the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome, where the Pontiff has been in hospital since February 14 (Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP)

Pope Francis remains in a stable condition a day after a respiratory crisis, and spent long periods of the day off the non-invasive ventilation he needed to recover with less intensive high-flow supplemental oxygen.

Francis had no further episodes of bronchial spasms, no fever, was feeding himself and continued his respiratory physiotherapy, actively co-operating, the Vatican said in a statement.