Pope Francis ‘inhaled vomit’ after suffering a bronchial spasm in a major setback in his two-week battle against pneumonia, the Vatican has said. The development marked a reversal in what had been two successive days of increasingly upbeat reports from doctors treating Francis at Rome’s Gemelli hospital since February 14.

The Vatican said the pope responded well to the treatment, with a good level of gas exchange, and remained conscious and alert at all times.

The development marked a setback in what had been two successive days of increasingly upbeat reports from doctors treating Francis.