Pope Francis, 86, was hospitalized in Rome on Wednesday with a respiratory infection and will remain in the hospital for “a few days,” Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See’s news service, announced in a press release.
He noted that the tests “revealed a respiratory infection (other than a Covid-19 infection) which would require a few days of medical treatment in hospital”.
The Argentine Jesuit, who marked his 10-year pontificate in mid-March, took part in his weekly morning audience in St. Peter’s Square as he does every Wednesday, when he appeared smiling, greeting the faithful aboard his “Papamobile.”
François, who has been in a wheelchair since May 2022 due to chronic knee pain, was already hospitalized for 10 days at Gemelli Hospital in July 2021 for a major colon surgery.
Jorge Bergoglio explained that there were “after effects” from the anesthesia he experienced during this intervention, which led him to rule out the possibility of knee surgery until now.
His knee pain, particularly in 2022 which prompted him to cancel several matches and postpone a trip to Africa, is at the center of speculation about a possible resignation.
He always left the door open to this scenario, as did his predecessor, Benedict XVI, who resigned and surprised the whole world.
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