Pope Francis suffered two new breathing attacks on Monday, requiring two separate bronchoscopies, the Vatican said, as the 88-year-old pontiff struggles to recover from pneumonia.

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.

Pope Francis, who has been in hospital for two weeks with double pneumonia, is in a "stable" condition, with no repeat of the previous day's breathing crisis, the Vatican said Saturday.The 88-year-old head of the Catholic Church is still receiving oxygen,

Pope Francis' health has improved, Vatican sources indicated to CBS News on Friday, saying he was not currently in critical condition after exactly two weeks in hospital for bronchitis that developed into pneumonia in both lungs.

Pope Francis suffered two episodes of "acute respiratory insufficiency" on Monday, the Vatican said, in another setback for the 88-year-old pontiff as he continues to battle double pneumonia. Francis has been in Rome's Gemelli Hospital since February 14,

Pope Francis rested well after overcoming a setback in his recovery caused by a respiratory crisis, as he remains in the hospital recovering from pneumonia.

Pope Francis remained stable through the day on Sunday and no longer required the use of mechanical ventilation to breathe, the Vatican said, in a sign of progress as the 88-year-old pontiff battles double pneumonia.