On Friday morning, he held audiences at the Vatican before his hospitalization, including with the prime minister of Slovakia and with Mark Thompson, CNN's chief executive. During the meeting, the pope was mentally alert but struggling to speak for extended periods due to breathing difficulties,

ROME - Pope Francis was taken to a hospital on Friday with bronchitis and he will skip several planned public events over the next three days, the Vatican said, after the 88-year-old pontiff was seen struggling to speak during one of his meetings in the morning.

Pope Francis was hospitalized Friday for the fourth time since being elected in 2013, after he was diagnosed with bronchitis last week. Francis had part of one lung removed as a young man and has recurring bouts of bronchitis,

Pope Francis will be hospitalized at Rome’s Gemelli Polyclinic at the end of Friday’s daily audiences to undergo some necessary diagnostic tests and to continue his ongoing treatment for bronchitis in the hospital,

Pope Francis will be hospitalized at Rome’s Gemelli Polyclinic at the end of Friday’s daily audiences to undergo some necessary diagnostic tests and to continue his ongoing treatment for bronchitis in the hospital,

Pope Francis will go into hospital in Rome for treatment for bronchitis and medical examinations, the Vatican said Friday.

Pope Francis said on Wednesday he was still suffering from a bout of bronchitis and asked an aide to read prepared remarks for a weekly general audience at the Vatican for the second time in two weeks.

Pope Francis is in critical condition in a Rome hospital, 10 days after he sought out treatment for bronchitis. The bronchitis has turned into double pneumonia, and the pope is also dealing with early signs of kidney failure and breathing difficulties.

ROME and LONDON -- Pope Francis "rested well, all night long" in the hospital, Vatican officials said in a brief update on Tuesday morning. Francis, 88, has been hospitalized at Rome's Gemelli Hospital since Feb. 14 following a bout with bronchitis.

The pontiff's condition is touch-and-go, given his age, fragility and pre-existing lung disease, according to doctors.

ROME and LONDON -- Pope Francis was "resting" on Monday morning after spending his 10th night in the hospital, the Vatican press office said. "The night passed well, the Pope slept and is resting," the office said in a short statement.