The Vatican said Friday that Pope Francis is on a breathing machine after suffering a sudden respiratory episode during his hospitalization.

The development marked a setback in what had been two successive days of increasingly upbeat reports from doctors treating Francis.

Vice President JD Vance acknowledged Pope Francis’ criticism of the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration, without responding to any of its specifics or to the pontiff’s apparent criticism of Vance’s own deployment of Catholic tradition to justify such policies.

Vice President JD Vance led the audience at the 20th National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in prayer for the ailing Pope Francis, who has criticized the Trump administration over its immigration policy.

Doctors have suggested Pope Francis has overcome the most critical phase of pneumonia after recovering from the infection for two weeks. Father Dave Dwyer says most Catholics are unlikely to call for the pope's resignation.