Pope Francis to continue oxygen therapy, despite stabilized condition

The pontiff slept through the night and remained stable on Tuesday, despite suffering two episodes of respiratory failure 24 hours earlier and being briefly placed on an oxygen mask, according to a Tuesday evening statement from the Vatican. Francis was taken off the non-invasive oxygen mask and was again given an oxygen nasal tube on Tuesday, but is expected to resume using the oxygen mask Tuesday night and into Wednesday. Pope Francis spent the morning in prayer, the Holy See added. The 88-year-old entered his third week of battling pneumonia in both lungs after being hospitalized on Feb. 14.

How severe were the respiratory attacks mentioned? Francis’ episodes of acute respiratory insufficiency were triggered by a mucus collecting in the pope’s airway, making it difficult for him to breathe. Doctors performed bronchoscopies to remove the built-up mucus both times, according to the Vatican. Doctors put Francis on the non-invasive oxygen mask for the procedures.

Will Francis step down? Religious commentators suggest Francis may opt to step down for the leadership role like his predecessor, Benedict XVI. Others insist that the pope isn’t going anywhere. Monsignor Giuseppe Satriano, archbishop of Bari-Bitonto, during a news conference late last month, said he believed that Francis would recover from the illness. Francis is a fighter and although his recovery will take time, he will win the battle, Satriano said.

How is a new pope chosen? The church’s College of Cardinals, comprised of bishops and Vatican officials hand-picked by the pope, elect the next pope, according to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The college will hold a number of general congregation meetings at the Vatican in preparation for the papal election, known as a conclave. A few weeks after the pope’s death or resignation, the conclave will take place at the Sistine Chapel under absolute secrecy. Voting cardinals seal themselves inside the church for rounds of voting until one candidate receives a two-thirds vote of support.

Dig deeper: Read Leigh Jones’ report from 2013 about the last conclave.