Pope Francis' health has deteriorated over the past 24 hours, the Vatican said in a statement on Saturday, adding that he had suffered a "prolonged asthma-like respiratory crisis" and had needed blood transfusions.

ROME — Pope Francis was in critical condition Saturday after he suffered a long asthmatic respiratory crisis that required high flows of oxygen, the Vatican said.

Doctors on Friday said the 88-year-old Francis is "not out of danger" ​and that the main threat facing him would be the onset of sepsis.