Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, suffered an ‘isolated’ breathing crisis, the Vatican said today.

The coughing fit, known as bronchial spasm, forced him to use an oxygen mask on his nose and mouth for the first time after he inhaled vomit into his lungs, the Vatican said.

‘This afternoon… the Holy Father experienced an isolated bronchospasm crisis,’ said the latest detailed update about the pontiff’s condition.

The pope, it said, also had ‘an episode of vomiting with aspiration and a sudden worsening of the respiratory condition.’ He then received the help of ‘non-invasive mechanical ventilation,’ it said.

What else do we know about the pope’s condition?

Francis, 88, has been in Rome’s Gemelli hospital for two weeks, after being admitted on February 14 with a severe respiratory infection that triggered other complications.

Friday’s news came after three days of more positive updates on the pope’s health.

The Vatican has not said how long the pope will remain in hospital, but it announced Friday that Francis would not lead the annual Church service on March 5.

The Ash Wednesday service, which kicks off the 40 days of prayer and fasting leading up to Easter Sunday, will instead be conducted by a senior Vatican official.

Francis, who has served as pope since 2013, continues to lead the Vatican from the hospital.

On Friday, the Vatican shared a papal letter to those participating in a Church training course in Rome. It was signed by Francis with a note indicating it had been sent “from Gemelli hospital.”