The crises were a new setback in what has become a more than two-week battle by the frail pope to overcome a complex respiratory infection. The Vatican said the mucus that had accumulated in Francis's lungs was his body's reaction to the original pneumonia infection and not a new infection, given laboratory tests do not indicate any new bacteria.

Pope Francis has not been seen in public since entering the hospital, his longest absence from view since his papacy started in March 2013.