Pope Francis enters the Gemelli Hospital by bronchitis

On the morning of this Friday, February 14, after fulfilling his appointments scheduled for this day, Pope Francis entered the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital in Rome to undergo a treatment against bronchitis that has suffered for days.

The press office of the Holy See reported in a brief statement that this morning, at the end of the hearings, Pope Francis has been admitted to the hospital “to undergo some necessary diagnostic tests and continue in hospital environment its treatment against the bronchitis, which still continues. ”

The Holy Father, 88, showed the first symptoms of bronchitis earlier last week. On Wednesday, February 5, he announced that he suffered “a strong cold” and apologized for not being able to read his catechesis at the general audience before the faithful gathered in the Paul VI classroom.

Subsequently, on Thursday, February 6, the Holy See confirmed that it was bronchitis, caused by the inflammation of the cladding of the bronchi that make it breathe with difficulty.

“Due to a bronchitis that suffers these days, and to continue with its activities, on Friday 7 and Saturday, February 8, the audiences of Pope Francis will take place in the Santa Marta house,” said the Vatican in a brief message.

Since then, although the Holy Father has not canceled his agenda, the audiences have taken place in the Santa Marta house, his residence of the Vatican and not in the Apostolic Palace, as usual, to avoid going out and expose themselves to the Low temperatures of Roman winter.

At the General Hearing of February 13, Pope Francis was also forced to give up the reading of his catechesis during the General Hearing. “I still with bronchitis can’t, I hope to be able to be able to be able to deliver the text to P. Luigi Giroli, from the Vatican Secretariat of the Secretary of the Secretary of the Vatican State.

The last time in which the Holy Father visited the hospital was in February 2024. On that occasion, the Vatican press office reported that he suffered “slight symptoms similar to the flu, without a fever.”

At the beginning of the General Hearing of February 28 of last year, Pope Francis explained: “I am still a little cold, that’s why I asked Mons. Ciampanelli to read today’s catechesis.” Then, he was taken to the Tiberina Tiberina Gemelli hospital for undergo some medical tests.

At the end of March 2023, the Pontiff was admitted to the Hospital of Rome Gemelli because of another bronchitis, which was treated with antibiotics. On that occasion, he was hospitalized for three days, which generated a generalized concern that fed the speculations that he could choose to retire instead of remaining in the position for life, a decision that made his predecessor, Benedict XVI.

The Vatican Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, settled the assumptions about Pope Francis’ health by arguing that he had maintained a tight schedule and that he was simply “tired.” The Pontiff has suffered in recent years Growing health problems, from persistent pain in the right knee, a painful gonalgia caused in turn by an osteoarthritis, to its recent hospitalization due to respiratory problems.