Pope suffers breathing crisis amid pneumonia battle, Vatican says

The Vatican says that throughout the day the pope remained alert and oriented the entire time. However, Vatican sources noted that Pope Francis is not out of danger and the doctors still need to assess the impact of today's episode.

Before the episode, Pope Francis spent his morning alternating between praying and respiratory physiotherapy. He also received the Eucharist.

This is not the 88-year-old pontiff's first episode since being hospitalized nearly three weeks ago. On Saturday, he had trouble breathing and, according to Vatican sources, an "isolated" incident in which he coughed and vomited. He is now reportedly using a different type of mask and is breathing normally.

Vice President Vance invited the attendees to join him in praying for Pope Francis' health. The vice president said he hopes the pope will make it through his health struggles, and shared something the pontiff did when COVID hit that touched him.

"I think all of us can remember that moment of the Holy Father standing in an empty Saint Peter's Square, holding the Eucharist above his head and giving a sermon that I return to consistently because it was incredibly meaningful to me at the time. It remains meaningful today," Vance said before going on to read part of the homily the pope gave in March 2020.