Pope Francis, who has faced multiple health issues in recent years, was admitted to a Rome hospital on Friday to treat a bronchitis-related respiratory condition.
After completing his morning audiences, including a meeting with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, the 88-year-old pontiff was taken to Gemelli Hospital.
“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 [his] treatment for bronchitis that is still ongoing,” the Vatican said in a statement.
Nicknamed the “Popes’ Hospital,” Gemelli features a private apartment on the 10th and top floor reserved for the pontiff. It includes a bed, television, bathroom, kitchen, medical equipment, and a small chapel.
The Vatican later confirmed that a scheduled Saturday audience had been canceled, along with a planned Monday meeting with artists. A cardinal will stand in for Francis at Mass on Sunday.
Breathing difficulties
Francis has been battling bronchitis since last week, forcing him to forgo reading his catechesis during Wednesday’s general audience due to breathing difficulties.
“Let me ask the priest to continue to read, because I cannot yet, with my bronchitis,” he said after reading a few lines.
The previous week, he had also asked an aide to read his catechesis, citing a “bad cold” that made speaking difficult.
The Vatican later announced that, due to his bronchitis, the pope would hold scheduled audiences from his residence over the next two days.
A series of health concerns
Hip problems, knee pain, surgeries, respiratory infections—Francis, who turned 88 December 17, has experienced a decline in health over the years but has maintained a demanding schedule at the Vatican.
Since 2022, he has relied on a wheelchair due to persistent knee pain and uses a cane when standing. In recent months, he has frequently delegated speech readings and even canceled appearances due to health concerns.
In December 2023, Francis—who had part of a lung removed in his youth—was forced to cancel a planned trip to Dubai for the United Nations’ COP28 climate summit due to bronchitis.
In March, he withdrew at the last minute from leading the Way of the Cross at Rome’s Colosseum but presided over Easter celebrations two days later.
Previous hospitalizations
In June 2023, Francis was hospitalized at Gemelli for 10 days following abdominal hernia surgery under general anesthesia.
He had also been hospitalized there for three days in March 2023 due to bronchitis, and for 10 days in July 2021 following colon surgery.
Despite recurring health scares, the pope has maintained a packed schedule, sometimes holding up to 10 meetings in a single morning.
He continues to travel, including a grueling 12-day trip in September to remote areas of Southeast Asia and Oceania—the longest journey of his pontificate.
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