VATICAN CITY. Pope Francis has been admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for treatment of bronchitis and is experiencing a respiratory infection, though his condition remains stable, the Vatican confirmed on Friday.
“The Holy Father … has undergone specialist examinations and has started hospital drug therapy,” the Vatican stated, approximately eight hours after his hospitalization. “The initial tests showed a respiratory tract infection. His clinical condition is fair; he has a slight fever.”
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni assured the public that Pope Francis is “serene and in good spirits,” noting that he has been reading newspapers during his stay.
The 88-year-old pontiff has been battling bronchitis for over a week. Earlier this month, he told pilgrims during a weekly audience that he had a “strong cold,” which the Vatican later clarified as bronchitis. His health has been a concern in recent years, as he has suffered from influenza and lung infections. As a young adult, he developed pleurisy, leading to the partial removal of one of his lungs.
Francis has also experienced mobility issues, requiring the use of a wheelchair or cane for extended periods. He suffered two falls in recent months—one in December, bruising his chin, and another in January, injuring his arm.
Before his hospitalization, Pope Francis held several meetings, including one with Mark Thompson, CEO of CNN. According to a CNN report, the pope was “mentally alert but struggling to speak for extended periods due to breathing difficulties.”
He also met with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, senior Vatican official Cardinal Luis Tagle, and a Catholic philanthropy group from Puerto Rico. Video footage from his meeting with Fico showed the pope smiling and speaking softly at his Vatican residence.
Despite ongoing health challenges, Francis has maintained a demanding schedule. In January and February, he attended public events but often had aides read his prepared remarks. In September 2023, he completed a 12-day tour across Southeast Asia and Oceania, the longest foreign trip of his papacy.
Given his history of lung-related illnesses, Francis’ condition is being closely monitored. Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, the city’s largest, houses a special suite designated for papal treatment. In June 2023, the pope spent nine days thereafter undergoing surgery to repair an abdominal hernia.
The Vatican has announced that the Pope will cancel several public engagements over the next three days as he recovers. Despite his ongoing health struggles, Pope Francis continues to lead the Catholic Church with resilience.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
- Gary P Hernalhttps://tutubi.ph/author/gary-hernal/
- Gary P Hernalhttps://tutubi.ph/author/gary-hernal/
- Gary P Hernalhttps://tutubi.ph/author/gary-hernal/
- Gary P Hernalhttps://tutubi.ph/author/gary-hernal/
