Pope Francis in fair condition after being hospitalized for bronchitis treatment
Francis had not interrupted his schedule since last week's diagnosis
Pope Francis was hospitalized Friday and was receiving drug therapy after a week-long bout of bronchitis worsened, the Vatican said, in the latest issues with the 88-year-old pontiff's health that forced him to cancel his agenda through Monday at least.
In an evening bulletin, the Vatican said preliminary tests showed Francis had a respiratory tract infection, was running a mild fever and was in "fair" condition at Rome's Gemelli hospital where he is being treated.
Francis was diagnosed with bronchitis on Feb. 6 but continued to hold daily audiences in his Vatican suite, attended his general audience on Wednesday and even presided at an outdoor mass on Sunday.
He has, however, handed off his speeches to an aide to read aloud, saying he was having trouble breathing. Francis, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, has long battled health problems, especially long bouts of acute bronchitis in winter.
Ever since his diagnosis, Francis has appeared bloated, an indication that the medication he was taking to treat the lung infection was making him retain water.
Bronchitis usually is triggered by respiratory viruses, from the common cold to more serious infections such as the flu or RSV. Bronchitis sets in when the airways leading to the lungs become inflamed, causing mucus that people try to cough out.
The immune system wanes with age, leaving older adults especially vulnerable both to respiratory viruses and to complications like bronchitis. The Pope has said he had a cold earlier this month.
Francis's most recent hospitalization at Gemelli was in June 2023 to have surgery to remove intestinal scar tissue and repair a hernia in the abdominal wall. A few months before that, he spent three days in the hospital to receive intravenous antibiotics for a respiratory infection.
The Pope uses a wheelchair, walker or cane when moving around his apartment and recently fell twice, hurting his arm and chin.
No public events through Monday
A Vatican statement announced his admittance to hospital after he had met earlier Friday with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, and the head of CNN, Mark Thompson.
"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 treatment for bronchitis that is still ongoing," the statement said.
No details were given about the duration of Francis's hospitalization, but it was later announced he was cancelling his participation in Holy Year events through Monday. The Pope had a busy weekend agenda planned, with an audience with artists in town for the Jubilee on Saturday, a mass for them on Sunday and a trip to Rome's famed Cinecittà Studios on Monday.
While a Vatican cardinal would preside over the mass in Francis's place, the Vatican said the other events were cancelled "due to the impossibility of the Pope to participate."
The Vatican announcement came in sharp contrast to the confusion of his 2023 hospitalization for bronchitis. Initially, the Vatican had said he had gone in for scheduled tests, but the pontiff later revealed he had felt pain in his chest and was rushed to the hospital where bronchitis was diagnosed.
He was put on intravenous antibiotics and was released April 1 of that year, quipping as he left that he was "still alive."
Francis spent 10 days at the same hospital in July 2021 following intestinal surgery for a bowel narrowing,