VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis has bronchitis however is exhibiting a “marked improvement” after being handled with antibiotics and may very well be discharged from hospital “in the coming days”, medical workers stated Thursday.
The replace, in an announcement from the Vatican, got here because the 86-year-old ready to spend a second night time in Rome’s Gemelli hospital, the place he was admitted on Wednesday after complaining of respiratory difficulties.
“The Holy Father was found to have an infectious bronchitis which required the administration of antibiotics”, medical workers caring for him stated in an announcement revealed by the Vatican.
The therapy resulted in “a marked improvement in his state of health” and the pope “could be discharged in the coming days”, it stated.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni stated that Francis, who earlier this month marked 10 years as head of the Catholic Church, had spent the afternoon resting, praying and doing a little work.
The Vatican initially stated he had been admitted for pre-planned checks, earlier than revealing late Wednesday he had been identified with a respiratory an infection.
The Argentine pontiff has suffered quite a few well being points all through his life, together with having a part of one among his lungs eliminated at age 21.
While protecting a busy schedule and travelling broadly, he has for the previous 12 months used a wheelchair as a consequence of knee ache, and admitted final summer season he needed to decelerate.
His admission to hospital sparked widespread concern, notably after unconfirmed reviews that he arrived in an ambulance.
“I am touched by the many messages received in these hours and I express my gratitude for the closeness and prayer,” the pope stated in a message posted on Twitter.
Francis was compelled to cancel Thursday’s engagements, and there at the moment are questions over his presence at companies for the upcoming Holy Week and Easter, crucial interval within the Christian calendar.
Preparations are already underway on the Vatican for this weekend’s Palm Sunday celebrations.
‘Always the concern’
At his weekly viewers on Wednesday morning, simply hours earlier than his admission to hospital, the pope appeared in good spirits, smiling as he greeted the devoted from his “popemobile”.
But he was pictured grimacing as he was helped getting onto the car — a photograph that made all the main entrance pages of Italy’s newspapers on Thursday.
News of the pope’s hospitalization made world headlines and sparked prayers amongst lots of the estimated 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide — together with US President Joe Biden.
Biden, solely the second Catholic president in US historical past, urged attendees at a White House reception to “say an extra prayer” for the pontiff.
His well being was additionally on the minds of tourists to the Vatican on Thursday.
“There is always the fear, and yet it seems that everything is calm for now,” stated Tina Montalbano, a 60-year-old vacationer information.
“I hope he recovers very soon and can celebrate the Easter period here in St Peter’s.”
Francis was admitted in July 2021 to the identical Rome hospital for 10 days for an operation on his colon after affected by a sort of diverticulitis, an irritation of pockets that develop within the lining of the gut.
In an interview in January, the pope stated the diverticulitis had returned.
In 1957, at age 21, Francis had a part of one among his lungs eliminated, however he has stated he made a full restoration.
Resignation rumors
Francis has repeatedly stated he would think about stepping down if his well being required it, following the instance of his predecessor Benedict XVI.
The German theologian, who died on December 31, shocked the world in 2013 by changing into the primary pope for the reason that Middle Ages to resign.
Francis has cautioned, nonetheless, that papal resignations shouldn’t be the norm, and stated in an interview in February that the concept was presently not “on my agenda”.
Despite his well being points and advancing age, Francis — a Jesuit who appears most completely satisfied being amongst his flock — continues to journey internationally.
Earlier this 12 months, he visited South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, drawing large crowds.
Next month, he is because of go to Hungary and meet Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
In the previous decade, Francis has sought to forge a picture of a extra open, compassionate Church, though he has confronted inside opposition, notably from conservatives. — Agence France-Presse
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
