Pope Francis has been admitted to hospital after a case of bronchitis persisted for more than a week, a Vatican spokesman said on Friday.

The 88-year-old pontiff, who has been battling health problems for years, has begun treatment in a Rome hospital.

Pope Francis was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital after his scheduled meetings Friday for tests and treatment of his ongoing bronchitis, however, no information was provided on the duration of his stay.

Pope Francis was admitted to a hospital in Rome on Friday for tests and bronchitis treatment, and has cancelled upcoming events, the Vatican said. The pope's hospitalization comes amid reports that the pontiff,

Pope Francis was hospitalized Friday for the fourth time since being elected in 2013, after he was diagnosed with bronchitis last week. Francis had part of one lung removed as a young man and has recurring bouts of bronchitis,

The Argentine pope was admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital on Friday after a weeklong bout of bronchitis worsened.

It is unclear how long Pope Francis will stay in hospital, according to a Holy See spokesperson, after he was admitted on Friday with a respiratory tract infection.