Pope Francis will remain in the hospital and will continue to receive treatment for a lung infection, according to a Reuters story citing a Vatican spokesperson. According to the publication, diagnostic testing revealed that Pope Francis suffered from a respiratory tract illness. According to Vatican News, the 88-year-old pontiff enjoyed a “restful night” at Rome’s Agostino Gemelli Hospital. The pope had a “slight fever” on Friday, but it had passed by Saturday, according to Vatican News.
The pope was sent to Rome’s main hospital after apparently suffering from bronchitis for almost a week, the Vatican told Fox News. CNN CEO Mark Thompson visited with Pope Francis just before his hospitalization. CNN reported that the pope was “mentally alert but struggling to speak for extended periods due to breathing difficulties.”
The Pope is no stranger to health issues. He had part of his lung removed when he was 21 years old due to pleurisy, an inflammation of the membranes that cushion the lungs. Pope Francis has fought with several health challenges over the previous four years, including surgery in 2021 and 2023, as well as ongoing knee difficulties that have resulted in his use of a wheelchair.
In his memoirs, the pope attributed his health problems on his age, stating, “The Church is governed using the head and the heart, not the legs.” The pope also experienced two recent falls, one in December and the other in January. Following his second fall at home, Pope Francis’ arm was immobilized with a sling. The Vatican stated that this was done as a “precautionary measure.”