Pope Francis was supposed to be hospitalized for the treatment of bronchitis and undergo some of the necessary diagnostic tests, Vatican said on Friday, confirming the latest health problems with the health of the 88-year-old. A spokesman said he was expected to be “a few days”.
Francis was diagnosed with bronchitis last Thursday, but continued on a daily basis at his Vatican Hotel, attending his general audience on Wednesday, and even chaired at the external mass on Sunday. However, he handed over his speeches to read aloud, saying he had problems with breathing.
Francis, who has been removed part of a lung as a young man, has long struggled with health problems, especially long acute bronchitis in winter. He uses a wheelchair, a walker or a reed when moving around his apartment and recently fell twice, injuring his hand and chin.
Ever since the diagnosis of Francis has appeared bloated, it has been an indication that the drug it has taken to treat lung infection has been forced to retain water.
Francis was hospitalized at the Gemelli hospital, where he was last hospitalized in June 2023 to have surgery to remove the intestinal scar and repair the hernia in the abdominal wall. A few months before that he spent three days in the hospital to receive intravenous antibiotics for respiratory infection.
A statement in the Vatican says Francis will be admitted at the end of his audience on Friday. In addition to regular Vatican officials, the Pope met on Friday morning with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and CNN chief, Mark Thompson.
“This morning, at the end of the audience, Pope Francis will be admitted to Agostino Gemelli Polyklinic for some of the necessary diagnostic tests and continue at a hospital treatment for a bronchitis that still lasts,” the statement said.
The Vatican did not provide details about the duration of Francis’s hospitalization or what would come from his scheduled events. He has a hectic weekend agenda with another special event in the Holy Year, this time honoring artists. In the calendar, the audience with artists on Saturday, Mass on Sunday and a trip to the famous Cinecitta studies in Rome on Monday.
The Vatican announcement, delivered on the eve of Francis’s hospitalization, appeared in sharp opposition to hospitalization 2023 for the bronchitis that caused confusion.
Initially, the Vatican said that he had gone to scheduled tests, but Pontiff later revealed that he felt pain in his chest and was transported to a hospital where bronchitis was diagnosed. He was placed on Intravenous antibiotics and was released on April 1, tearing as he left he was “still alive”.
Francis spent 10 days at the same hospital in July 2021. After a intestinal surgery due to intestinal narrowing.
contributed to this report.
