According to a Vatican spokesperson cited by Reuters, Pope Francis is continuing his treatment for a respiratory infection and will stay in the hospital for the time being. Diagnostic tests revealed the infection involves the pontiff's respiratory tract. Vatican News reported that the 88-year-old pope had a comfortable night at Rome's Agostino Gemelli Hospital and that the slight fever he experienced on Friday had subsided by Saturday.
Pope Francis opens the Holy Door of St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on December 24, 2024, to commence the Catholic Jubilee Year. (Alberto Pizzoli/Pool Photo via AP)
The Vatican confirmed to Fox News that the pope was admitted to Rome's largest hospital after experiencing bronchitis symptoms for about a week. CNN CEO Mark Thompson recently met with the pope and described him as mentally sharp but experiencing difficulty speaking for extended periods due to breathing problems.
A statue of Pope John Paul II stands outside Gemelli Hospital in Rome, Italy, where Pope Francis is undergoing treatment for ongoing bronchitis on February 14, 2025. (REUTERS/Remo Casilli)
This is not the pontiff's first health challenge. At 21, he underwent surgery to remove part of a lung due to pleurisy. In recent years, he has faced several health issues, including surgeries in 2021 and 2023, and persistent knee problems requiring wheelchair use.
Pope Francis arrives in a wheelchair for his weekly general audience at the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican on February 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
The pope has also experienced two falls recently, one in December and another in January. Following the second fall at his residence, his arm was placed in a sling as a precaution. In his autobiography, the pope attributed his health challenges to age, emphasizing that leadership in the Church relies on intellect and compassion, not physical mobility.
