ROME — Pope Francis suffered a bronchial spasm on Friday that resulted in him breathing in vomit, requiring non-invasive mechanical ventilation, the Vatican said in relaying a setback in his two-week long battle against double pneumonia.

People in Rome and the Vatican are relying on their faith as they cope with the daily anxiety waiting to hear about the pope’s health.

Pope Francis experienced an isolated bronchial spasm resulting in a temporary setback in his hospitalization treatment for double pneumonia, the Vatican said on Feb. 28.

After experiencing progressive improvement the past few days, Pope Francis experienced “an isolated crisis of bronchospasm” which led to coughing and “vomiting with inhalation,” which worsened his respiratory condition, the Vatican said.

The Vatican says Pope Francis's condition has worsened after a breathing crisis in hospital on Friday - two weeks after he was first admitted to hospital in Rome with bronchitis.

The Vatican said Francis, 88, who has been hospitalized for pneumonia, was responding well to treatment, and that it was too soon to say how serious the incident was.

The Vatican’s early Friday update also suggested a level of normalcy and routine as the 88-year-old pope continues recovering at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.

The Vatican press office has released a statement saying the pope had a peaceful evening of rest in hospital and is continuing his recovery in the hospital on Friday.