The press office for the Vatican said Sunday that Pope Francis was able to rest overnight as he slowly recovers from double pneumonia after initially being hospitalized for bronchitis.

The Vatican described his condition as critical for the first time on Saturday, reporting that the 88-year-old Francis needed supplemental oxygen and blood transfusions after a "prolonged asthma-like respiratory crisis.

Pope Francis was in critical condition Saturday after he suffered a long asthmatic respiratory crisis that required high flows of oxygen, the Vatican said.