(MENAFN) On Wednesday afternoon, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis has been diagnosed with a respiratory infection after complaining of breathing difficulties in recent days. As a result, the pontiff will be spending several days at Rome's Gemelli hospital for medical treatment. All of his scheduled events through Friday have been canceled, and there remains uncertainty about whether he will be able to fulfill his Holy Week and Easter commitments.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni released a statement verifying that the tests carried out on the Pope did not indicate Covid-19, but rather a respiratory infection. Bruni added that the infection would require specialized medical therapy for a few days to help the pontiff recover.
Earlier in the day, Pope Francis rode around Saint Peter's Square in the "popemobile" to meet with Catholic faithful for a scheduled general audience, embracing and kissing babies. It was later revealed that the hospital visit was not a routine check-up, as initially reported by Bruni.
The Pope's health has always been of great concern, especially given his age of 86. Despite his recent health challenges, he has continued to carry out his duties as head of the Catholic Church with great resilience and determination. His followers around the world are hoping for a speedy recovery so that he may continue his important work.
MENAFN30032023000045014146ID1105905812
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.