The Vatican says Pope Francis is in critical condition after he suffered a long asthmatic respiratory crisis that required high flows of oxygen. Francis has been hospitalized for a week with a complex lung infection.

Doctors on Friday said the 88-year-old Francis is "not out of danger" ​and that the main threat facing him would be the onset of sepsis.

Francis, who has chronic lung disease, was admitted to hospital on February 14 after a week-long bout of bronchitis worsened.