Vatican announces Pope Francis has been hospitalized: He had fallen ill 2 days ago
It has been reported that Pope Francis has been hospitalized for bronchitis treatment. Pope Francis, who experienced shortness of breath while leading a mass at the Vatican on February 12, had his speech completed by his assistant. Vatican sources provided information that Pope Francis may remain in the hospital for 5 days.
AA
In a written statement from the Vatican Press Office, it was noted that the Head of State of the Vatican and spiritual leader of Catholics, Pope Francis, was taken to Gemelli Hospital in Rome due to a bout of bronchitis he has been suffering from for some time. The statement expressed that Pope Francis's health condition is being closely monitored after he experienced issues due to shortness of breath during public masses held on February 9 and 12.
The Pope was last treated at Gemelli Hospital twice in 2023, once for complaints of shortness of breath and once for an operation to insert a prosthesis into his abdominal wall.
The office's statement noted the following:
''Following his audiences this morning, Pope Francis was admitted to Gemelli Hospital for some necessary tests and to continue his bronchitis treatment in the hospital.''
According to the Italian news agency ANSA, sources close to the Vatican suggested that the Pope's treatment in the hospital could last for 5 days.
The 88-year-old Pope Francis, who has had bronchitis since the beginning of the month, was unable to deliver his speeches himself at two public events on February 9 and 12, as he was suffering from bronchitis and having difficulty breathing, and requested that his assistants read them instead.
WHO IS POPE FRANCIS?
The spiritual leader of the Catholic world, Pope Francis, was elected as the 266th pope of the Catholic Church as a result of the conclave held in the Vatican on March 13, 2013. The Catholic leader, whose real name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was born in 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
A member of the Jesuit order who received theological training, the Pope received the title of cardinal in 2001. He is known for the importance he places on issues of poverty, environmental problems, and social justice.
Pope Francis has drawn attention with his reformist stance within the Catholic Church and his modest lifestyle. During his tenure, the Pope, who has supported refugees and called for global peace, has encouraged interfaith dialogue. He went down in history as the first Latin American and Jesuit-origin pope.