Pope Francis was admitted to a Rome hospital after complaining of breathing difficulties in recent days, the Vatican said Wednesday after canceling his meetings for the next two days.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said medical checks had been carried out on the pontiff at the Gemelli hospital, where Francis underwent surgery in 2021.
“In recent days Pope Francis has complained of some breathing difficulties,” Bruni said in a statement, adding that the tests had picked up a respiratory infection.
He said that Covid-19 had been ruled out by the tests but the pope would “require a few days of appropriate hospital medical therapy.”
“Pope Francis is touched by the many messages received and expresses his gratitude for the closeness and prayers,” he added.
In an earlier statement Bruni said that Francis had gone to hospital for scheduled tests.
Francis’ audiences through Friday were canceled, raising questions about the pope’s participation in the Vatican’s Holy Week activities.
Though he grimaced visibly while getting into and out of the “popemobile,” he had appeared in relatively good form during his scheduled general audience Wednesday.
