NNA - Pope Francis, hospitalised for bronchitis four days ago, faces a "complex clinical picture", the Vatican said on Monday, indicating that the 88-year-old's stay will be longer than initially believed.

After initially cancelling events through till Monday, the Vatican said the pope's weekly Wednesday audience would not go ahead either.

"The results of the tests carried out in recent days and today have demonstrated a polymicrobial infection of the respiratory tract that has led to a further change in treatment," the Vatican said in a statement.

"All the tests carried out until now are indicative of a complex clinical picture that will require adequate hospitalisation." -- AFP

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