The Vatican carried on with its Holy Year celebrations without the pope Saturday, as Pope Francis battled pneumonia and a complex respiratory infection that doctors say remains touch-and-go and will keep him hospitalized for at least another week.

VATICAN CITY >> Pope Francis’ health has deteriorated over the past 24 hours, the Vatican said in a statement today, adding that he had suffered a “prolonged asthma-like respiratory crisis” and had needed blood transfusions.

Pope Francis' health has deteriorated, with the Vatican declaring his condition as 'critical'. Suffering from double pneumonia, the Pope needed supplemental oxygen and blood transfusions. His condition remains precarious,