ROME – The status of Pope Francis’ upcoming schedule is uncertain as he remains hospitalized in Rome for a respiratory tract infection. This hospitalization has already exceeded the duration of a previous pneumonia-related hospital stay in 2023.
According to Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni, the 88-year-old pontiff had breakfast and caught up on the news on Monday morning, while also continuing with his prescribed medications. A more comprehensive medical update was anticipated later in the day.
The Pope’s hospitalization at Gemelli hospital in Rome came as his bronchitis worsened following a week of illness. Medical professionals diagnosed him with a respiratory tract infection and recommended complete rest in addition to specific drug treatments. Updates later reported that his minor fever had disappeared, and he was considered to be in a “stable” condition.
The Argentine pope, who had part of one lung removed after a pulmonary infection as a young man, is a known workaholic who keeps up a grueling pace despite his increasingly precarious health.
There has been no word on how long his hospital stay might last.
When he had a bad case of pneumonia in 2023, he left after three days and only acknowledged after the fact that he had been admitted urgently after feeling faint and having a sharp pain in his chest. This time around, Francis insisted on finishing his morning audiences Friday before leaving the Vatican, even though he was having trouble speaking at length because he was short of breath.
The Holy See has only confirmed cancelled appointments through Monday. Francis was supposed to have gone to Rome’s Cinecitta film studios to meet with artists as part of the Catholic Church’s Holy Year celebrations.
While his private audiences are rarely announced with much advance notice, the pope’s next scheduled appointment is his weekly general audience Wednesday. Beyond that, he is scheduled to preside on Sunday at the ordination of deacons as part of a Holy Year weekend dedicated to deacons. Francis’ participation in both appears in doubt, but they remain on the official Vatican schedule.
When he missed the Jubilee Mass dedicated to artists this past Sunday, a cardinal stood in for him.
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