Pope Francis in critical condition after a 'respiratory crisis,' Vatican says

Pope Francis in critical condition after a 'respiratory crisis,' Vatican says

Pope Francis, who has been hospitalized for over a week, is in critical condition after a "prolonged asthma-like respiratory crisis," the Vatican said Saturday.

The pope is "more unwell than yesterday," the Vatican said in a statement.

The 88-year-old pontiff was hospitalized at the Gemelli University Hospital in Rome on Feb. 14 for treatment for bronchitis, and was later diagnosed with a polymicrobial infection and is being treated for double pneumonia. The Vatican first announced he had bronchitis on Feb. 6.

He also needed blood transfusions due to anemia and high-flow oxygen during the respiratory crisis, the Vatican said on Saturday. Still, the pope is alert and spent much of the day seated in an armchair.

His prognosis is "guarded," the Vatican said.