Pope Francis returns to ventilator following respiratory failure

Pope Francis is back on a ventilator in a hospital in Rome after experiencing two episodes of acute respiratory distress on Monday.

According to a Vatican official later the same day the pope's acute respiratory distress had stabilized and the 88-year-old pontiff was under "careful observation."

Pope Francis was admitted to the hospital on February 14th due to a respiratory infection with pneumonia detected in both lungs.

The latest setback means the pope will miss the procession and mass on Wednesday marking the first day of Lent.