PITTSBURGH -- After a nearly two-month battle with a rare form of brain cancer, Pittsburgh Mayor Bob O'Connor has been taken off life support.

The 61-year-old mayor is living "hour to hour," with family and close friends by his side at UPMC Shadyside, mayoral spokesman Dick Skrinjar said.

An interfaith prayer service for O'Connor was held at St. Mary of Mercy Church on Stanwix Street in downtown Pittsburgh on Friday afternoon. Earlier, a Mass was held at the O'Connors' parish, St. Rosalia in Greenfield.

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In accordance with the city charter, City Council President Luke Ravenstahl will be sworn in as the new mayor -- Pittsburgh's youngest leader ever, at age 26 -- after O'Connor passes.

"My thoughts and prayers remain with Bob O'Connor, his family and friends during this difficult time. I ask the rest of the city of Pittsburgh to do the same," Ravenstahl said. "If and when an announcement is needed to be made, we will make sure that the media and the city is notified accordingly. I would ask until that time that we respect the family and their wishes and let them have this time of peace in their last days and hours with the mayor."

O'Connor has been hospitalized since July 10 with primary central nervous system lymphoma. Doctors said he has four small tumors on his brain.

O'Connor was downgraded to serious condition on Monday after brain scans showed seizure activity, doctors said. A drain to remove fluid buildup from his brain became infected and was replaced, doctors said.

Before Skrinjar's statement, the most recent update about O'Connor had been the one issued Tuesday afternoon, which simply said he was being treated with anti-seizure medicine and antibiotics.

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