Abdelrahman
Pope Francis is set to be hospitalized in Rome for treatment and evaluation of his bronchitis, as announced by the Vatican.
The 88-year-old pontiff is scheduled to check into Gemelli hospital following his morning audiences on Friday, according to a brief statement from the Vatican.
For several days, the Pope has been experiencing symptoms of bronchitis, which has led him to entrust officials with reading his prepared remarks during recent public engagements. The Vatican’s statement indicated, “Today, after his audiences, Pope Francis will be admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic for essential diagnostic tests and to continue treatment for his persistent bronchitis.”
Earlier this week, during a speech, the Pope requested a priest to read a portion of his address due to the challenges posed by his condition. He remarked, “Let me ask the priest to continue reading, as I am unable to do so because of my bronchitis. I hope to be able to speak myself next time,” shortly after attempting to start his speech. On Sunday, he also asked his aides to read in his place during a mass and at last Wednesday’s general audience.
Last week, the Pope conducted meetings at his Vatican residence, focusing on rest and recovery in light of his health concerns. This is not the first instance of hospitalization for the pontiff; he was treated for bronchitis at the same facility in March 2023, where he spent three nights.
In December of the same year, he had to cancel his journey to the United Arab Emirates for the COP28 climate summit due to another health issue. Leading the Roman Catholic Church for nearly 12 years, the Argentine Pope has faced various health challenges throughout his life, including the removal of part of one lung when he was just 21 years old.
