Pope Francis was admitted to hospital on Wednesday afternoon with respiratory problems. Aged 86, the sovereign pontiff must spend a few days under medical supervision until his state of health improves. The Vatican has sown confusion, initially announcing routine health checks.
With our correspondent in Rome, Eric Senanque
Initially, the Vatican first explained that the sovereign pontiff had gone to the hospital ” for scheduled exams “. But Pope Francis was indeed the victim of a respiratory malaise at the start of the afternoon.
He was therefore hospitalized to undergo a series of tests, including blood tests. The Holy See revealed in the evening that the pope was suffering from a respiratory infection, which is not Covid, but which requires hospitalization for a few days, also stressing that the sovereign pontiff had been complaining for a few days of breathing difficulties. .
The pope was transferred to the Gemelli hospital in Rome, known as the “hospital of the popes”. It was there that John Paul II had made several stays, there also that the Argentine pope had been admitted for ten days in the summer of 2021 for a colon operation.
The health of Pope Francis, 86, is closely monitored. This hospitalization takes place a few days before the start of Holy Week in Rome, which is particularly rich in celebrations. It is not known at this time whether Francis will be reinstated to preside over these ceremonies.
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