The Vatican announced that the 86-year-old Pope Francis, who was hospitalized on Wednesday for pre-scheduled examinations, has a respiratory infection that requires him to stay in hospital for “a few days.”
The media director of the Holy See, Matteo Bruni, said in a statement that the tests “revealed a respiratory infection (not a Covid-19 infection) that will require a few days of medical treatment in hospital.”
Pope Francis’ agenda for Thursday was canceled following he was admitted to a hospital in Rome to undergo periodic examinations, pending the release of the results of these examinations, a source in the Vatican told AFP.
“The Pope’s schedule has been canceled due to the possibility of further medical examinations,” the source said, adding that it was “possible” that the 86-year-old Pope would spend the night in hospital.
On Wednesday, Pope Francis entered a hospital in Rome to undergo pre-scheduled medical examinations, according to the Vatican.
“The Supreme Pontiff has been in Gemelli Hospital since Wednesday followingnoon for pre-scheduled medical examinations,” said Matteo Bruni, director of the media department of the Holy See, in a statement.
Earlier Wednesday, the Argentine Jesuit pope participated in his weekly general audience with the faithful in St. Peter’s Square, where he appeared smiling and greeted the faithful from the papal car.
And Pope Francis, who has been using a wheelchair since May 2022 due to chronic pain in his knee, was previously admitted to Gemelli Hospital for ten days in July 2021 to undergo colon surgery.
