Por Katia Hetter, CNN Después de que el papa Francisco fuera hospitalizado la semana pasada por bronquitis, el Vaticano ha anunciado que tiene neumonía bilateral, y las pruebas siguen indicando un “cu

Pope Francis was hospitalized Friday to treat a weeklong bout of bronchitis and undergo diagnostic tests, the Vatican said, confirming the latest issues with the 88-year-old's pontiff's health that forced him to cancel his agenda through Monday at least.

Pope Francis was hospitalized and will undergo diagnostic tests after experiencing breathing issues amid an ongoing bout of bronchitis. (AP) NIH official Michael Lauer, MD, is resigning, the second top official at the agency to step down this week.

Pope Francis was hospitalized Friday to treat a weeklong bout of bronchitis and undergo diagnostic tests, the Vatican said, confirming the latest issues with the 88-year-old’s pontiff’s health that forced him to cancel his agenda through Monday at least.

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,

NBC News' Claudio Lavanga reports that Pope Francis has been admitted to the hospital in Rome and is being treated for bronchitis, with his schedule suspended for the next three days.

Pope Francis is being admitted to hospital on Friday for “necessary tests” and to continue his ongoing bronchitis treatment, the Vatican said.

Pope Francis was admitted to the hospital for bronchitis treatment Friday and has canceled all scheduled events for the next three days, according to the Vatican. “This morning, at the end of the audiences,

“Pope Francis is touched by the numerous messages of affection and closeness that he continues to receive in these hours,” the Vatican statement said. The pope expressed particular gratitude for the well wishes he received from his fellow patients in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital and asked for continued prayers.

Vatican officials said that Pope Francis had developed pneumonia in both lungs, further complicating the pontiff’s recovery

Pope Francis was to be hospitalized for bronchitis treatment and necessary diagnostic testing after his Friday audiences, the Vatican said.