Pope Francis was admitted to the Gemelli hospital in Rome on Wednesday, March 29th due to a respiratory infection, and will remain there for a few days.
He appeared smiling as usual at the Wednesday morning papal audience. But because he had been suffering from breathing difficulties over a number of days, he was hospitalised. Tests revealed a respiratory infection, unrelated to COVID-19.
The 86-year-old Pope has reached the ten-year mark of his pontificate. For the past two years, he has had to deal with several health problems that have required hospitalization. In July 2021, he had to undergo major colon surgery. Since May 2022, due to recurrent knee pain, he has been using a wheelchair because of difficulty walking. For this reason, he has had to cut back on his foreign travel schedule, but his pain did not prevent him from travelling to Africa a few weeks ago.
The respiratory infection from which he is now suffering is attracting particular attention because it is a fragile area for the pontiff, who had part of his lung removed in his youth because of pleurisy. The first news from the Gemelli hospital on Thursday, March 30th was reassuring of seeing of improvements.
This new hospitalisation of the pontiff rekindles rumours and speculation about his state of health and a possible renunciation of his office, like his predecessor Benedict XVI. Pope Francis has in recent months, as is his habit, multiplied contradictory statements on this subject. In July 2022, he mentioned the possibility of “putting himself aside” if his mobility difficulties became too disabling. But a month ago, he dismissed the prospect of giving up, saying that it should not become “a fashion” and that it was not on his agenda for the moment.
The pontiff’s plan for the next few days should not be significantly altered. While the immediate weekend appointments have been cancelled, he is nevertheless scheduled to preside at the Holy Mass at the Vatican on Palm Sunday, April 2nd, as well as the Holy Week ceremonies that will follow. His trip to Budapest, scheduled for the end of April, also remains on his schedule.
