Pope Francis Hospitalized for Bronchitis and Medical Checks

Pope Francis has been hospitalized in Rome for medical tests and treatment related to ongoing bronchitis, the Vatican confirmed.

The 88-year-old pontiff, who has experienced breathlessness in recent days after being diagnosed last Thursday, has delegated officials to read his speeches. According to the Vatican, he was admitted after completing his morning audiences.

‘This morning, at the end of his audiences, Pope Francis was admitted to the Policlinico Agostino Gemelli for some necessary diagnostic tests and to continue his treatment for bronchitis, which is still ongoing, in a hospital environment,’ a statement said.

The Pope, who had part of one lung removed in his youth, has struggled with various health issues, particularly recurrent bouts of acute bronchitis during winter.

Earlier this month, he informed pilgrims at a weekly audience that he was battling a “strong cold,” which the Vatican later confirmed as bronchitis.

Since his diagnosis, Francis has appeared bloated, likely due to water retention caused by the medication used to treat his lung infection.

In recent years, he has been hospitalized multiple times, including surgery in 2021 for diverticulitis and another procedure in 2023 to repair a hernia.

Last month, the pontiff sustained an injury to his right arm after a fall at his Santa Marta residence, but the Holy See confirmed he did not suffer any fractures.

Despite his age and health challenges, Francis has stayed remarkably active, even embarking on his longest papal journey in terms of duration and distance last September, visiting four nations.

‘I am well,’ Pope Francis said in January. ‘The Church is governed using the head and the heart, not the legs.’

He said it was ’embarrassing at first to have to use a wheelchair, but old age never arrives by itself, and it must be accepted for what it is.’