Vatican City, March 1 -- Pope Francis slept well and spent the first part of the morning resting, Vatican News reported on Saturday, as he continues to battle his respiratory condition.

"After a quiet night, the Pope is resting", Vatican News quoted the brief Holy See Press Office statement.

An earlier statement, issued on Friday evening had stated that Pope Francis' respiratory condition worsened following an isolated bronchospasm. The Pope was promptly started on non-invasive mechanical ventilation, to which he responded.

Due to the non-invasive mechanical ventilation, gas exchange values are reported to have returned to levels similar to those before the episode after the Pope was admitted on February 14. However, about 24 to 48 hou...