Pope Francis suffers from a respiratory infection and will remain hospitalized “a few days”, announces the Vatican

Pope Francis, hospitalized in Rome, suffers from a respiratory infection and will remain in hospital “A few days”, announced the Holy See on Wednesday March 29 in the early evening. Exams “have revealed a respiratory infection (excluding Covid 19 infection) which will require a few days of medical care in hospital”, is it specified in a press release.

“The Holy Father is at [l’hôpital] Gemelli since this afternoon for previously scheduled checks”, had previously said in a brief statement the director of the press service of the Holy See, Matteo Bruni, without giving further details.

A heavy operation in 2021

In the morning, the Argentinian Jesuit, who in mid-March crossed the tenth anniversary of his pontificate, participated as every Wednesday in the weekly general audience in Saint Peter’s Square, during which he appeared smiling, greeting the followers of his “papamobile”.

François, who has been in a wheelchair since May 2022 due to chronic knee pain, had already been hospitalized for 10 days at Gemelli Hospital in July 2021 for a major colon operation.