Argentinian activist tries to enter Pope Francis's hospital room

A left-wing Argentinian activist tried to enter Pope Francis's hospital room in Rome, the Italian news agency ANSA reported on Monday.

The trade unionist Juan Grabois was stopped by security forces, the report said. The exact background to the incident was initially unclear.

According to the report, Grabois also works as an adviser for a Vatican agency and has met the pope several times, most recently in September at an event for members of social movements.

In Argentina, the 41-year-old activist is best known as the leader of a trade union for day labourers and as a left-wing politician.

The 88-year-old head of the Catholic Church has spent 10 days in hospital with a respiratory infection which turned into double pneumonia. Doctors describe his condition as critical.

He is staying in a highly secured wing on the 10th floor of Rome's Gemelli Hospital, where only his closest staff are allowed to visit him.