Pope Francis is currently in the hospital as he battles bronchitis and undergoes “necessary tests” and treatments for the condition.

The Holy See Press Office announced the 88-year-old’s condition on Friday following the pope’s morning audiences.

“This morning, after his audiences, Pope Francis will be admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic for necessary diagnostic tests and to continue hospital treatment for his ongoing bronchitis,” the press office announced.

Prior to his intake at Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic, Pope Francis met with Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Robert Fico on Friday.

All weekend events involving the Bishop of Rome have been cancelled “due to the impossibility of the pope to participate.”

Well-wishers have left items at a vigil outside the hospital in support of the pontiff, including flowers, candles, and religious devotional images.

The pontiff’s bout with bronchitis was first noted by the Holy See on Feb. 6, and he has been holding some of his audiences in his residence at Casa Santa Marta since.

The pope’s health is at particular risk due to the fact he had a portion of one lung removed when he was young.

It is always difficult to discern the true severity of any pope’s health scares due to a centuries-long precedent of secrecy around such matters.

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Pope Francis has suffered declining health for years. He was previously hospitalized at Gemelli over a bowel narrowing that threatened his life in 2021. He was hospitalized multiple times in 2023 for a case of bronchitis, a hernia, and abdominal surgery.

Last year he was briefly admitted for flu-like symptoms.

Through it all, the Bishop of Rome has remained in good spirits during his health scares, remarking with a smile to journalists in 2023 as he left Gemelli, “Still alive!”