Pope Francis was taken to hospital on Friday with bronchitis and he will skip several planned public events over the next three days, the Vatican said, after the 88-year-old pontiff reportedly struggled to speak during one of his meetings in the morning.

Pope Francis was taken to a hospital on Friday to receive treatment for bronchitis after he visibly struggled to speak during a meeting earlier in the day, according to a report. The 88-year-old, who has been sick for more than a week,

Pope Francis was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Friday to undergo testing and treatment for bronchitis, the Vatican said. The 88-year-old pope was hospitalized in the late morning on Feb. 14 following meetings with a number of people, including the prime minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico.