Pope Francis suffered an isolated coughing fit on Friday that resulted in him inhaling vomit and requiring non-invasive mechanical ventilation, the Vatican said in relaying an alarming setback in his two-week long battle against double pneumonia.

Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, a Vatican official, will preside over the March 5 ceremony and procession that inaugurates the church’s solemn Lenten season leading up to Easter in April.

Pope Francis suffered an isolated coughing fit on Friday that resulted in him inhaling vomit, requiring non-invasive mechanical ventilation, the Vatican said in relaying a setback in his two-week long battle against double pneumonia.

Pope Francis reached the two-week mark in his recovery from pneumonia Friday as doctors suggested he had overcome the most critical phase of the infection but held out on declaring him out of

Pope Francis was resting Thursday after a peaceful night during his third week of hospital treatment for double pneumonia, the Vatican said. The pope has been sleeping with a

Pope Francis had a "good night" as he enters his third week of treatment for double pneumonia at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, the Vatican said Thursday.

As millions of Catholics around the world and in Detroit begin the Lenten season, concerns over Pope Francis' health linger.

Severe weather didn’t put a damper on the observance of Ash Wednesday, which is especially poignant this year as Pope Francis remains hospitalized in Rome.

The 40-day season of Lent began as Christian faithful around the world celebrated Ash Wednesday in preparation for Easter in a period for penance, reflection and fasting among those of the Catholic faith.

The Catholic Church opened the solemn Lenten season leading to Easter on Wednesday without the participation of Pope Francis, who is in the third week of hospital treatment for double pneumonia.