Pope Francis, 88, has been admitted to the Policlinico Agostino Gemelli in Rome for tests and treatment related to bronchitis, the Vatican announced on Friday, as per Al Jazeera.
The hospitalization comes as the pontiff continues to battle the respiratory ailment, initially diagnosed last week.
According to a Vatican statement, the decision to hospitalize Pope Francis was made “at the end of his audiences” this morning, citing the need for “necessary diagnostic tests and to continue his treatment for bronchitis…in a hospital environment.” Prior to his admission, Pope Francis maintained his schedule, meeting with Vatican officials and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.
Despite being diagnosed with bronchitis last Thursday, Pope Francis had continued to hold daily audiences in his Vatican hotel suite, preside over general audiences, and even celebrate an outdoor Mass last Sunday. However, he had recently delegated the reading of his speeches to an aide, citing difficulty breathing.
Pope Francis has led the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics since 2013. In recent years, he has faced a number of health challenges, including influenza and other ailments. He is the second-oldest pope in history, having succeeded Benedict XVI.
The Argentinian pope has a history of health issues, including the removal of part of one lung in his youth and recurring bouts of acute bronchitis, particularly during the winter months. He frequently uses a wheelchair, walker, or cane for mobility and recently suffered two falls, resulting in injuries to his arm and chin. He also underwent surgery in 2021 to remove a significant portion of his large intestine.
Observers have noted a bloated appearance in Pope Francis since his latest bronchitis diagnosis, potentially indicating water retention due to his medication.
The Policlinico Agostino Gemelli is the same hospital where Pope Francis was hospitalized in June 2023 for surgery to address intestinal scar tissue and repair a hernia in his abdominal wall. Prior to that, he spent three days in the hospital to receive intravenous antibiotics for a respiratory infection. In December 2023, a bout of bronchitis forced him to cancel a scheduled trip to Dubai to participate in the United Nations COP28 climate change conference.
Pope Francis’s medical team includes Dr. Roberto Bernabei, an internist and geriatric specialist at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Rome, who serves as his personal physician. Massimiliano Strappetti, a Vatican health system employee and the Pope’s personal nurse, is also a key member of his healthcare team. Pope Francis credited Strappetti with saving his life by diagnosing his 2021 intestinal problem, and subsequently appointed him as his “personal health care assistant” in 2022. Strappetti and Bernabei regularly accompany Pope Francis on his international travels.
