Rome, 18 February 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Pope Francis is suffering from the onset of double pneumonia, a Vatican statement said on Tuesday.

This means he has inflammation in both lungs.

The pontiff has been in hospital in Rome since Friday due to a persistent respiratory infection and the statement said his condition remained complex. Since his admission his therapy has had to be adjusted a second time, following an updated diagnosis.

At 88, Francis is now the second oldest pope in history. As the successor to Benedict XVI, he has been in office since March 2013.

The Argentine's health has been in decline for some time.

On several occasions recently, he was unable to speak for long at public appearances and appeared breathless. He hardly left his residence in the Vatican in recent weeks.