Pope Francis, the 88-year-old head of the Catholic Church, is hospitalized in Rome to address ongoing bronchitis and undergo necessary diagnostic tests.
Pope Francis is being hospitalized to treat bronchitis and undergo necessary diagnostic tests, the Vatican announced on Friday, confirming the latest health concerns for the 88-year-old pontiff. Francis was diagnosed with bronchitis last Thursday but continued to hold daily audiences in his Vatican hotel suite, attended his general audience on Wednesday, and even presided at an outdoor Mass on Sunday.
He has, however, relied on an aide to read his speeches aloud, stating he was experiencing difficulty breathing. Francis, who had a portion of one lung removed in his youth, has long struggled with health issues, particularly extended bouts of acute bronchitis during winter months. Since his diagnosis, Francis has appeared visibly swollen, an indication that the medication he was taking to address the lung infection was causing water retention. Francis is currently at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, where he was previously hospitalized in June 2023 for surgery to remove intestinal scar tissue and repair a hernia in the abdominal wall. Several months prior to that, he spent three days in the hospital receiving intravenous antibiotics for a respiratory infection. The Pope utilizes a wheelchair, walker, or cane when moving around his apartment and has recently experienced two falls, resulting in injuries to his arm and chin.A Vatican statement indicated that Francis would be admitted at the conclusion of his Friday audiences. Earlier on Friday, in addition to regular Vatican officials, the Pope met with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and the head of CNN, Mark Thompson. 'This morning, at the end of the audiences, Pope Francis will be admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic for some necessary diagnostic tests and to continue in a hospital setting treatment for bronchitis that is still ongoing,' the statement declared. The Vatican did not disclose details regarding the duration of Francis' hospitalization or the implications for his scheduled events. The announcement arrived just prior to Francis' hospitalization and stands in contrast to the 2023 hospitalization for bronchitis that caused confusion. Initially, the Vatican stated he had entered for scheduled tests, but the pontiff subsequently revealed he had experienced chest pain and was rushed to the hospital where bronchitis was diagnosed. He received intravenous antibiotics and was released on April 1st of that year, quipping as he departed that he was 'still alive.' Francis spent 10 days at the same hospital in July 2021 following intestinal surgery for a bowel narrowing
POPE FRANCIS HOSPITALIZATION BRONCHITIS DIAGNOSTIC TESTS VATICAN HEALTH
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