LAZIO, Rome — Still in the hospital with double pneumonia, Pope Francis suffered a breathing 'crisis' on Friday which caused him to vomit, but he was given air and responded well, the Vatican reported in its day-to-day updates on the Holy Father's condition.

Attending doctors at the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli (Gemelli University Hospital) said that the 88-year-old Argentine pontiff, who has spent the past two weeks hospitalized, "presented an isolated crisis of bronchospasm which . . . led to an episode of vomiting with inhalation and a sudden worsening of the respiratory picture."

"The Holy Father promptly underwent bronchoaspiration and began non-invasive mechanical ventilation, with a good response on gas exchange," the doctors disclosed.

"(Francis) remained alert and oriented at all times, cooperating with the therapeutic manoeuvres," they added.

Pope Francis was hospitalized on February 14 for breathing difficulties but his condition deteriorated into pneumonia in both lungs, sparking widespread alarm. He suffered a breathing attack at the weekend, but since then appeared to have been getting slightly better, with the Vatican releasing more optimistic medical updates.

A Vatican source went so far as to say Francis's condition was not currently critical following incremental improvements in his condition.

However, the pope's prognosis remains as 'reserved', which means doctors will not predict changes in his health. Still, medical experts are warning that Francis's age and the chronic respiratory disease from which he suffers mean a sustained recovery could take time.