was halted to issue an update on health after the was thrown into “doubt” over his illness.
Host Kamali Melbourne paused the programme to issue the latest update from Rome, telling viewers: “We’ve had our daily update for the morning from the Vatican about the welfare of the Pope. We’ll bring you what we’ve been told in the last few minutes. This is the 21st day that Pope Francis has been in hospital now, his treatment is continuing.
“The Vatican said that he woke up fine and he’s eating normally. There’s no CT scan planned at the moment, they tell us, but they say he is now back on high-flow oxygen via nasal cannulas. So the Pope, 21 days in hospital, he is eating normally and there is no planned intervention in terms of a CT scan or anything else like that. His treatment continues, the doctors looking after him there at the Gemelli Hospital have told us. We’ll get another update on the Pope’s condition later on this evening.”
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Pope Francis is fighting a respiratory illness (Image: Getty)
It comes as “doubt” is spreading at the Vatican over the 88-year-old’s health, with Swiss Guard spokesman Corporal Eliah Cinotti admitting: “We are at minimum service. Extraordinary – masses, audiences, receptions of ambassadors and heads of state – are in free fall.”
Instead, cardinals have stepped in for some masses, but many have been cancelled in the wake of the Pope’s health crisis.
The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Francis suffered two episodes of acute respiratory failure – the third significant downturn in his condition since first being admitted to hospital with double pneumonia.
Sky News was halted for an urgent update (Image: Sky News)
Doctors were forced to perform two bronchoscopies to clear the mucus from his lungs, along with non-invasive mechanical ventilation to assist his breathing. The pontiff has a history of respiratory issues and lung problems, and underwent a partial lung removal as a young man due to severe pneumonia.
The Vatican describes his condition as “complex”, but say the Pope has remained “alert, oriented and co-operative” throughout his hospital ordeal.