Pope Francis Hospitalized for Bronchitis Treatment

Pope Francis is scheduled to be admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome for tests and treatment related to bronchitis, as confirmed by the Vatican. This health concern has hindered the Pope's ability to deliver speeches on his own in recent days.

The Pope, who recently turned 88, is facing another bout with bronchitis, leading to a delegation of officials to read his speeches during public events. In a statement, the Vatican outlined the papal plan, indicating that after his morning audience, the pontiff would undergo necessary diagnostic processes. The Pope had openly expressed his struggle with the illness during his recent address, requesting assistance from a priest to continue sharing his message due to his health limitations.

Recently, he also had aides read for him during a mass and a general audience, aiming to alleviate the impact of his condition. In an effort to recover, Pope Francis had been holding meetings in his Vatican residence prior to the hospital admission. This isn't the first instance of severe bronchitis for the Pope; he received treatment at the same hospital in March 2023 and had previously canceled a trip to the COP28 climate summit in December of that year due to illness. The Argentine pontiff, having led the Catholic Church for nearly 12 years, has had a long history of health challenges, including having a lung operation in his youth.