After spending nearly a week in the hospital, the Vatican now says Pope Francis is in critical condition. "It's up to God to take him or have him continue doing a good job," one Rhode Islander said. It was another day of Holy Year celebrations,

VATICAN CITY >> Doctors have changed treatment for Pope Francis’ respiratory tract infection to tackle a “complex clinical situation” and he will remain in hospital for as long as necessary, the Vatican said today.

Pope Francis is being treated for double pneumonia. (CNS photo/Pablo Esparza) VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis experienced “an asthmatic respiratory crisis of prolonged magnitude, which also required the use of oxygen at high flows” Feb.

By Christopher Lamb, Antonia Mortensen and Rob Picheta, CNN Vatican City (CNN) — Pope Francis was being treated in a hospital in Rome for bronchitis and to have medical examinations, the Vatican said Friday,

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -Doctors have had to change treatment for Pope Francis' respiratory tract infection to tackle a "complex clinical situation" and he will remain in hospital for as long as necessary,

From left, Hong Kong's Bishop Emeritus, Cardinal Joseph Zen, Pope's Vicar General for the Vatican City, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, and Auxiliary Bishop of Lisbon, Cardinal Amèrico Aguiar, take part in

Reports of Pope Francis' critical health condition have put global media outlets including CNN, CBS and NBC, in high gear to descend upon Rome.

Francis was also given blood transfusions, according to the Vatican, after blood tests revealed he was suffering from thrombocytopenia, meaning the platelet count in his blood was too low, a condition the doctors said is associated with anemia. Infections and medical treatment may lower platelet count.

The Vatican said Francis, who was diagnosed with double pneumonia, suffered a breathing crisis and needed blood transfusions.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, will lead a public recitation of the rosary at 9 p.m. Feb. 24 in St. Peter’s Square.

The announcement on Saturday evening indicated that Francis’ medical condition had become more complicated since an update from his doctors on Friday.