The Vatican announced on Friday that head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, has been admitted to a hospital in Rome for medical tests and treatment for bronchitis.
The 88-year-old pope, who has been struggling with shortness of breath in recent days and has assigned officials to deliver his speeches, was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital after his morning audiences.
He was hospitalised to undergo “some necessary diagnostic tests and to continue treatment for ongoing bronchitis in a hospital setting,” according to the Vatican’s statement.
Having had part of his lung removed as a young man, Pope Francis has been experiencing breathing difficulties for over a week, often relying on aides to read his speeches aloud on his behalf.
In March 2023, he spent three nights in the same hospital for bronchitis, which was successfully treated with antibiotics.
Later in December, another bout of bronchitis forced him to cancel his scheduled trip to Dubai for the United Nations COP28 climate change conference.
The Argentine-born pontiff has dealt with several health issues in recent years, including knee and hip problems, an inflamed colon, and hernia surgery.
