Pope Francis in hospital ‘with heart problems’

The Pope was taken in an ambulance, according to Italian media

Pope Francis speaks with his aides prior to being helped get up the popemobile car from his wheelchair CREDIT: AFP

By Nick Squires at The Daily Telegraph, IN ROME 29 March 2023 at 6:50pm

Pope Francis has been admitted to a hospital in Rome, with Italian media reporting that he is suffering from “heart problems” and “breathing difficulties.”

The Vatican released a brief statement in which it said the head of the Roman Catholic Church had been taken to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for “previously scheduled checks”.

The one-line statement gave the impression that the checks were entirely routine.

But within an hour, Italian media claimed that the 86-year-old pontiff had been taken to the hospital by ambulance.

At least three leading Italian newspapers reported that after his weekly audience on Wednesday morning, he had started to suffer from breathing difficulties and heart problems.

A Vatican source said that the Pope’s appointments for Thursday had been cancelled and that it was possible that he might remain in hospital overnight.

“The pope’s agenda has been freed up for the possibility of further tests,” the source told AFP.

Papal aides and security staff have been sent to the hospital in anticipation of Pope Francis spending at least a night there, Italian media reported.

He was given an MRI scan to check on the health of his lungs, reports said.

His admission to hospital comes just days before Easter, traditionally one of the busiest times for any pontiff.

Pope Francis, who has been Pontiff for a decade, suffers from knee problems which have forced him to often use a wheelchair.

He has said in the past that he might resign like his predecessor Benedict XVI if bad health makes it impossible for him to continue doing his job.

Pope Francis in December revealed that he has signed a letter of resignation to be used if he is unable to perform his duties for health reasons.

In the summer of 2021, he underwent a serious operation to his colon.

Update: Pope Francis to Continue Treatment at Hospital, Vatican Says

‘This morning after having breakfast, [Pope Francis] read some newspapers and resumed work,’ Bruni added. ‘Before lunch, he went to the chapel of his private apartment, where he spent time in prayer and received the Eucharist.’

Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square on March 8, 2023. (photo: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA / EWTN)

Hannah Brockhaus/CNA Vatican March 30, 2023

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis will continue to receive treatment after being hospitalized for a respiratory infection on Wednesday, a Vatican spokesman said Thursday.

“His Holiness Pope Francis rested well overnight. The clinical picture is progressively improving and he is continuing his planned treatment,” Holy See Press Office Director Matteo Bruni said in a brief statement issued just after 12:30 p.m. on March 30.

“This morning after having breakfast, [Pope Francis] read some newspapers and resumed work,” Bruni added. “Before lunch, he went to the chapel of his private apartment, where he spent time in prayer and received the Eucharist.”

On March 29 the Vatican announced that Pope Francis was expected to remain in a Rome hospital for a few days due to a respiratory infection. It had been announced earlier in the day that he was in the hospital for previously scheduled medical checkups.

As of Thursday morning, the Pope’s agenda lists no appointments for the day for March 30. He is still scheduled to preside over a Mass in St. Peter’s Square on April 2 for Palm Sunday and to give the usual Sunday Angelus address.

“In recent days Pope Francis has complained of some difficulty breathing and this afternoon went to [Gemelli Hospital] to carry out some medical tests. The results of these tests showed a respiratory infection (a COVID-19 infection was excluded) that will require some days of opportune medical treatment in the hospital,” Holy See Press Office Director Matteo Bruni said Wednesday evening.

“Pope Francis is touched by the many messages he received and expresses his gratitude for the closeness and prayer,” Bruni added.

Bruni had issued a brief statement earlier in the afternoon of March 29 to say the Pope was at Gemelli Hospital “for some previously scheduled checkups.”

Gemelli is the same hospital where Pope Francis was hospitalized in July 2021 when he underwent surgery on his colon for diverticulitis, or inflammation of the intestinal wall.

In an interview with the Associated Press in January, Pope Francis disclosed that the diverticulitis had “returned.” At the time, the 86-year-old pontiff — who traveled to South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo in late January — insisted he was in relatively good condition.

The Pope has also suffered since last year from a problem with his right knee, making it necessary for him to rely on a cane and a wheelchair to move around. But Francis told the AP that a fracture had healed without surgery after laser and magnet therapy.