Pope Francis, who has been battling pneumonia for two weeks, has had an "isolated" breathing crisis in hospital, the Vatican has said. It led to an episode of vomiting and a "sudden worsening of his respiratory condition" on Friday following the coughing "bronchospasm".

Pope Francis spent a tranquil night and was resting early Saturday, the Vatican said in a brief update, after his respiratory condition worsened on Friday.

Pope Francis, who has been in hospital for just over two weeks fighting double pneumonia, had a peaceful night and is resting, the Vatican said on Saturday. After days of a cautious optimism, the 88-year-old pontiff suffered a setback on Friday,