Vatican says Pope Francis is improving and no longer needs mechanical help to breathe

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis’s condition continued to improve Wednesday and he no longer needs to use noninvasive mechanical ventilation to help him breathe at night, the Vatican said.

The 88-year-old pontiff is also reducing his reliance on high-flow supplemental oxygen during the day, the Vatican said in a medical bulletin.

Nicole Winfield, The Associated Press