Multiple outlets reported Tuesday that Pope Francis is still in the hospital and has pneumonia in both lungs. The Vatican said Monday that Francis had “a complex clinical picture” that would necessitate his hospitalization, following the leader of the Catholic Church’s admission last week for testing and treatment of bronchitis.Pope Francis’ Health News— He has both lung pneumonia, according to Vatican reports.
The pope’s medical experts advised “complete rest,” according to the Vatican on Sunday. However, Bruni told reporters on Monday that Francis was “in good spirits” and had continued to execute some of his duties, including visiting parishioners in Gaza. But a few of his public appearances have been postponed: The pope’s monthly public audience and another Jubilee set for Saturday were both canceled, and the Vatican announced on Tuesday that the pontiff would not be presiding over the Mass for the Jubilee of Deacons on February 23.
Pope Francis, who has been pope for almost 12 years, is 88 years old. He has experienced several health issues.
Francis has a history of respiratory problems, including having surgery to remove a portion of his lung due to an infection in 1957, according to USA Today. He was diagnosed with bronchitis in March 2023 after experiencing strong chest pains and difficulty breathing, which led to a three-day hospital admission for a respiratory infection. In July 2021, he also had a section of his colon removed and spent ten days in the hospital due to a constriction of the large intestine. According to Reuters, Francis, who is frequently spotted in public with a wheelchair or walker, claims in a recent autobiography that he is in good health and that “the reality is, quite simply, that I am old.” Furthermore, he stated: “The Church is governed using the head and the heart, not the legs.”
Antibiotics are the standard treatment for polymicrobial infections, according to the NIH. “Some infections require prolonged treatment because they’re just harder to clear from the system,” Dr. Nick Hopkinson, medical director of Asthma + Lung UK, told the Associated Press, adding that the pope may be taking multiple medications to combat various illnesses and keep his chest clear. Antibiotic treatments can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks.