Pope Francis is in “critical condition,” the Vatican said Saturday, after a “prolonged asthmatic crisis” and a low platelet count. They said he was alert and sitting in an armchair but suffering more pain than the day before.

Pope Francis is said to be in critical condition at a Rome hospital after suffering what the Vatican called a “prolonged asthma-like respiratory crisis.” The 88-year-old spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic church has been hospitalized for more than a week after suffering double pneumonia.

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.