Pope Francis, who suffered two respiratory crises on Monday as he battles double pneumonia, has stabilised and no longer needs to use mechanical ventilation for help breathing, the Vatican said on Tuesday.

The pope has been undergoing treatment for double pneumonia and a complex infection in a Rome hospital, and his condition has been alternating between improvements and setbacks. On Friday, Francis suffered a bronchial spasm that caused him to inhale his vomit after a coughing fit.

Pope Francis had stabilised enough on Tuesday after two respiratory crises to be taken off non-invasive mechanical ventilation and resume receiving just high flows of supplemental oxygen via a nasal tube to help him breathe,