Pope taken to hospital for respiratory infection

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Pope Francis (86) suffers from a respiratory infection and has to be treated in hospital for several days. This was announced by the spokesman of the Holy See, Matteo Bruni, on Wednesday evening. The head of the Catholic Church was taken to Gemelli University Hospital in Rome in the afternoon. According to Bruni, the 86-year-old has been complaining of breathing problems in recent days. The infection was subsequently found during testing at the hospital. It is not a corona infection, Bruni said.

According to information from Vatican circles, all appointments of the 86-year-old have been canceled on Thursday as a precaution. It remains unclear when Francis will return to the Vatican – where Easter celebrations will be next week.

Pope Francis, who has been battling health problems for some time, was taken to hospital for a check-up on Wednesday. The investigations were “planned in advance,” a Vatican spokesman said. However, he gave no further information about the nature and extent of the medical examinations. Vatican circles later said it was “possible” that the pope would have to spend the night in the clinic. His schedule for Thursday “has been cleared in case further testing is needed.”

face twisted in pain

At his weekly audience on Wednesday morning, the head of the Catholic Church was in good spirits and smiling at the faithful from his “Papamobile”. However, when his staff helped him get into the vehicle, he could be seen grimacing in pain.

In July 2021, the pope underwent surgery on his intestines at Gemelli Hospital. Francis has also been struggling with knee pain for quite some time. The 86-year-old has been using a cane or wheelchair for months.

The pope’s physical ailments had fueled speculation that the head of the church would resign. At the end of July last year, he announced that he wanted to travel less because of his health problems. He should “spare his strength a little” or “think differently about the possibility of stepping aside”.

However, in February of this year, Francis stated that dismissal was “not on my plan at the moment”. In the coming month he will visit Hungary and meet Prime Minister Viktor Orban there. (AFP/jmh)

Source: Blick