Pope Francis was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Friday for diagnostic tests and treatment for bronchitis, the Vatican has confirmed. The 88-year-old pontiff, who has been experiencing breathlessness in recent days, had to delegate officials to read his speeches on his behalf.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Following his morning audiences, the Vatican stated that Francis was hospitalized for “some necessary diagnostic tests and to continue treatment for ongoing bronchitis in a hospital setting.” He is being treated in a private suite reserved for popes, complete with its own chapel.
Health Struggles Intensify
Pope Francis has long battled respiratory issues, having had part of one of his lungs removed as a young man. His breathlessness has been evident for over a week, leading him to refrain from reading his own speeches during public appearances.
At his weekly general audience on Wednesday, he admitted:
“I cannot yet read my own speeches. I hope that next time I can.”
The Vatican had also limited his engagements on February 6 and 7, allowing him to rest at home.
This hospitalization follows a three-night stay in March 2023 when he was treated for bronchitis with antibiotics. In December 2023, he was forced to cancel a trip to Dubai’s COP28 Climate Conference due to another bout of bronchitis.
Defying Health Woes
Despite his frail health, Pope Francis has maintained a rigorous schedule. He has:
• Battled an inflamed colon and undergone hernia surgery.
• Used a wheelchair since 2022 due to chronic knee pain.
• Suffered falls in recent months, bruising his forearm in January and his jaw in December after toppling from his bed.
Even with these issues, Francis refuses to slow down. In September 2023, he completed a four-nation trip, the longest of his papacy in terms of duration and distance. Unlike his predecessors, he never takes holidays and often schedules up to a dozen meetings in a single morning.
Speculation Over Resignation
The Pope’s recurrent health problems have reignited discussions about a possible resignation, particularly as his predecessor, Benedict XVI, stepped down in 2013 due to failing health.
However, Francis has repeatedly dismissed immediate plans to resign, stating in his memoir published last year:
“I do not have any cause serious enough to make me think of resigning.”
He has acknowledged that resignation remains a distant possibility, but only if he faces a severe physical impediment. For now, he insists, he is going nowhere.
