The Vatican announced on Friday (local time) that Pope Francis had been hospitalized due to a worsening case of bronchitis. The Pope is reportedly receiving medication for a respiratory infection. This hospitalization is yet another setback for the 88-year-old pontiff's recent health struggles, leading to the cancellation of all his appointments until at least Monday. The Pope's health has been a concern for many, especially given his advanced age and history of respiratory issues.
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03-04, 2025Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni stated that Pope Francis was in good spirits and calm, having arrived at Rome's Gemelli Hospital after presiding over the morning's audiences and reading some newspapers. In a statement released that evening, the Vatican said that initial examinations revealed that the Pope had a respiratory infection with a slight fever and was currently receiving medication at Gemelli Hospital, with his condition being "okay." The Pope's positive attitude and the prompt medical attention are encouraging signs.
Pope Francis had previously complained of breathing difficulties and was diagnosed with bronchitis on February 6, but he continued to carry out his daily audiences in his Vatican hotel suite. He presided over Sunday's outdoor Mass and attended Wednesday's public audience. However, he had been handing his speeches over to aides to read aloud, saying he was having trouble breathing. On Friday, before going to the hospital, he appeared pale and swollen during several audiences. The swelling seemed to indicate that the medication he was taking for his lung infection was causing him to retain fluid. The Pope's dedication to his duties despite his health challenges is commendable.
CNN Vatican correspondent Christopher Lamb said he saw Pope Francis at the start of a meeting with CNN President Mark Thompson on Friday. He said the Pope was mentally sharp but had difficulty speaking for extended periods due to his breathing problems. Pope Francis, who had part of a lung removed when he was younger, has long struggled with health issues, especially acute bronchitis during the winter months. He uses a wheelchair, walker, or cane to get around and recently fell twice, injuring his arm and chin. The Pope's resilience in the face of these health challenges is truly inspiring.
Pope Francis is currently being treated at Rome's Gemelli Hospital. His last stay at the hospital was in June 2023, when he underwent surgery to remove scar tissue from his intestine and repair an abdominal wall hernia. In the months before that, he was hospitalized at Gemelli for three days, receiving intravenous antibiotics for a respiratory infection. He later revealed that he had been rushed to the hospital on March 29, 2023, with a high fever and severe chest pain. He said he was diagnosed with what he called "acute and bilateral pneumonia in the lower part of the lungs." The Pope's medical history highlights the ongoing health concerns he faces.
The Vatican stated that Pope Francis was taken to Gemelli Hospital after Friday's audiences. In addition to Vatican officials and Thompson, the Pope also met with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Friday morning. "This morning, at the end of the audience, Pope Francis was taken to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic for some diagnostic tests and, at the end of them, he returned to the Casa Santa Marta," the Vatican said in a statement. The Vatican's transparency in communicating about the Pope's health is appreciated.
The Vatican did not disclose the specific duration of the Pope's hospitalization but later announced that the Pope would cancel his participation in events scheduled before Monday. The Pope had been scheduled to have a busy weekend, including meeting with artists participating in the Jubilee on Saturday, holding Mass for them on Sunday, and visiting Rome's famous Cinecittà film studios on Monday. While a Vatican cardinal will replace the Pope in presiding over Mass, the Vatican said other events have been canceled due to "the Pope's inability to participate." The cancellation of these events underscores the seriousness of the Pope's condition.
At Gemelli Hospital, popes have a private suite on the 10th floor of the hospital, where passersby expressed concern but also hope. Votive candles, some with pictures of Pope Francis, surround a statue of St. John Paul II, which greets visitors at the hospital entrance. Nino Davi, who was also receiving treatment at Gemelli Hospital, having arrived earlier Friday from Palermo, Sicily, said: "I sincerely hope he gets better because these terrible diseases, you don't wish them on anyone. So I sincerely hope he gets better." The outpouring of support and well-wishes for the Pope is a testament to his global influence.
The Vatican's statement came before the Pope's hospitalization, a contrast to the way his hospitalization was announced in 2023, which caused confusion. Initially, the Vatican said he was only going for routine checks, but the Pope later revealed that the situation was far more urgent, that he had been rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with pneumonia. He received intravenous antibiotics and was discharged on April 1, leaving with a quip that he was "still alive." He later told reporters, "Thank God, I can tell the story, because the body reacted well to the treatment." The Vatican's improved communication strategy is a positive development.
Pope Francis spent 10 days at the same hospital in July 2021, undergoing intestinal surgery to treat a narrowing of the bowel. He credited his private nurse at the time with saving his life by insisting that he get the problem checked out. This was not the first time he had thanked a nurse for saving his life. Pope Francis recounted a near-death experience with a lung infection when he was younger in his recent autobiographies, "Hope" and "Life," crediting his survival to an Italian nun named Sister Cornelia Caraglio. The Pope's appreciation for healthcare professionals is evident.
"She was an experienced, educated woman, who had been a teacher in Greece, and she immediately realized the seriousness of my condition: she called a specialist, who drew a liter and a half of liquid from my lungs. Thus began a slow and uncertain climb from the edge of death," he recalled in "Hope." He recalled that it was she who, after the doctor prescribed a certain dose of penicillin and streptomycin, ordered the dose to be doubled. "She had intuition and practical experience, and certainly no lack of courage," he recalled. "My companions came to see me from the seminary; some gave me blood transfusions. Gradually, the fever decided to leave me, and the light began to return." The Pope's personal anecdotes provide valuable insights into his life and experiences.
Pope Francis survived, but during the treatment, he had to have the upper lobe of his right lung removed because three cysts had grown there. "The surgery was done with the techniques of the time: you can imagine the cut they made, and the pain I suffered," he said in "Life." The Pope's description of his past medical procedures offers a glimpse into the challenges he has overcome.
