Pope Francis: Hospitalization, diagnosis, reactions… What we know about his health

Pope is better, and “work resumed.” In the wake of Pope Francis’ hospitalization, and while he must stay “a few days” in the hospital, this Thursday the Vatican checks on the health of the 86-year-old Pope, who suffers from a “respiratory infection”. “.

What is his health condition?

Matteo Bruni, spokesman for the Holy See, said in a statement on Thursday that the 86-year-old pope’s health was “gradually improving and the planned treatments are continuing.” “This morning, after breakfast, he read some newspapers and went back to work,” he said. Earlier, the Vatican said he had a “good night” and the staff who followed him were “very optimistic”.

The day before, after mentioning the “scheduled examinations”, the Vatican spokesman finally announced on Wednesday evening that he was suffering from a “respiratory infection”. According to Matteo Bruni, “In recent days, Pope Francis experienced difficulty breathing and (…) he was admitted to the clinic of A. Gemelli for medical examinations”. These analyzes “revealed a respiratory infection” unrelated to Covid-19 and the Pope will have to undergo hospitalization for “a few days”.

precedents?

This sudden hospitalization surprised the world, especially since on Wednesday morning, Jorge Bergoglio participated again every week in the general audience in St. Peter’s Square, where he appeared smiling, greeting the faithful of the “Papmobile”. François has been in a wheelchair since May 2022 due to chronic knee pain, and has already been hospitalized for ten days at Gemelli Hospital in July 2021 for major colon surgery.

Pope Francis has admitted that he retained “post-anaesthetic scars,” which has led him to rule out knee surgery just yet. The pain from this joint, which notably forced him to cancel several appointments in 2022 and postpone a trip to Africa, is at the heart of speculation about his possible resignation, with the head of the Catholic Church always leaving the door open for that. Possibility.

The Pope is constantly followed by a team of carers, both in the Vatican and during his trips abroad. A necessary precaution because this octogenarian has quite a medical history behind him: At age 21, he nearly died from pleurisy and suffered a partial removal of one of his lungs.

What are the reactions in the world?

Joe Biden, the second Catholic president in American history after John Fitzgerald Kennedy, on Wednesday called on those present at a White House reception to “recite another prayer” for the Pope. French bishops meeting in Lourdes on Thursday called on Twitter “the Catholic faithful to unite their prayers for #PopeFrancis.” Their Italian counterparts had taken the same initiative on Wednesday.