Amid ongoing health issues facing Pope Francis, here is the process by the Vatican when a pontiff passes away.

Pope Francis has something to say about that. The world is watching the health of the 88-year-old pope who before his weeks-long hospitalization often sparred with political leaders over their treatment of migrants.

The Vatican reported Friday that he experienced sudden breathing problems that required “non-invasive mechanical ventilation” but that he remained “alert.”

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

Pope Francis, who has been hospitalised for two weeks battling double pneumonia, has spent another peaceful night and is now resting, the Vatican said on Friday. Francis, 88, was admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital on February 14 with what was originally described as a bronchitis and was later revealed to have developed into something more serious.