Pope Francis Hospitalized After Being Diagnosed With A Respiratory Infection

A spokesperson for The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Francis has been admitted into a hospital in Rome. The Pope was reportedly diagnosed with a respiratory infection and will spend a "few days" at the hospital to recover his health.

The shocking news comes amid the Pope looking healthy during the weekly general audience earlier that day. It also happens to be Easter, one of the busiest periods for the Pope and the Catholic Church.

Pope Francis battles multiple health issues, including diverticulitis and a knee injury requiring support. He's spoken about resignation, too, and said he'd consider it for medical reasons or extreme fatigue. 

Read on to find out more.

According to a statement by Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni, per Daily Mail, Pope Francis was recently hospitalized due to a respiratory infection. He will reportedly spend a "few days" at a Rome Hospital to treat the disease and recover his health.

The shocking news about Francis' health comes shortly after he canceled all events for tomorrow and checked into the Policlinico A. Gemelli Hospital for "scheduled checks." In his statement, Bruni revealed the 86-year-old pontiff had "complained of some respiratory difficulties" earlier in the day.

The hospital's exam revealed that Francis had a respiratory infection, requiring several days of medical therapy. Bruni also shared that the Pope is "touched by the many messages received and expresses his gratitude for the closeness and prayer."

Just hours before he checked into the hospital, Pope Francis was at his weekly general audience, which was held in St Peter's Square. He looked to be in good health during his interaction with the crowd but was later photographed grimacing as he got into his vehicle, which was escorted to the hospital by an ambulance.

At first, the Pope's staff claimed he'd already been scheduled for a hospital appointment but later confirmed he'd need an extended stay to recover. The news comes just before one of the biggest holidays and seasons in the Catholic Church's calendar: Easter.

Pope Francis was initially scheduled for a Palm Sunday Mass during the weekend and then multiple events for Easter week. Palm Sunday would kick start the Holy Week observances, which include Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil, and Easter Sunday.

Pope Francis has battled multiple health conditions during his life, including diverticulitis, which is a condition that inflames or infects the colon. In 2021, Francis had surgery to remove an inflamed and infected part of his colon. But, earlier this year, he shared the condition had returned and was affecting his body weight.

Pope Francis also battled with knee problems, forcing him to use a cane or wheelchair for support during public appearances. During an interview with Reuters last year, the 86-year-old said he'd declined surgery on his knee because he couldn't handle the long-term adverse side effects of anesthesia on his body.

When the Pope was still much younger, he had a terrible respiratory infection that led to him removing a part of one lung. This action has caused him to whisper often, making him easily susceptible to illnesses. Thankfully, the Pope could get through the COVID-19 pandemic without any infections.

Pope Francis has recently spoken about retiring from his position in multiple interviews, especially after his recent trip to Canada. During a conversation with some Italian media, he said he'd consider stepping down if he's too exhausted to continue the work.

He warned them of a "fatigue that makes you not see things clearly... A lack of clarity when it comes to knowing how to assess situations." Francis also shared that he's a little bit "ashamed" to use the wheelchair as the knee issues "was a physical humiliation, even if the recovery is going well now."

During a December interview with a Spanish newspaper, Pope Francis revealed he'd written his resignation letter almost ten years ago. He said, "I signed it and said: 'If I should become impaired for medical reasons or whatever, here is my resignation.'"