Pope Francis’ respiratory tract infection is presenting a “complex clinical picture” and he will need to remain in hospital, the Vatican says, as concerns grow about the 88-year-old’s increasingly frail health.
Spokesman Matteo Bruni said the results of tests conducted in recent days indicate the pontiff is suffering from a “polymicrobial respiratory tract infection” that needed a further change in his drug therapy.
Polymicrobial infections are caused by a mix of viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites.
There was no length of time given for the pope’s hospitalisation, but the spokesman added the complexity of his symptoms “will require an appropriate hospital stay”.
Mr Bruni said the pontiff was “in good spirits” and had eaten breakfast and read the newspapers on Monday morning after a third peaceful night.
He did not specify whether the pope was suffering from a bacterial or viral infection.
The Vatican said: “”All tests conducted up to today are indicative of a complex clinical picture that will require an appropriate hospital stay.”
‘Thank you for affection, prayer and closeness’
The pope was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital in a “fair” condition on Friday to be treated for a respiratory tract infection.
His doctors have advised complete rest. He was unable to deliver his regular weekly prayer on Sunday to pilgrims in St Peter’s Square or lead a special mass for artists to mark the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year.
On social media at the weekend, the pope wrote: “Thank you for the affection, prayer and closeness with which you accompany me in these days.”
The pope had been suffering from bronchitis for more than a week before he was taken to hospital.
He is said to have insisted on finishing his morning audiences on Friday before leaving the Vatican to be admitted to hospital.
The pope was finding it increasingly difficult to complete speeches and commitments last week because he was short of breath.
The pope is being treated at Rome’s Gemelli hospital. Pic: AP
‘Pope sounded a bit tired’
However, from his hospital bed at the weekend, the pope continued to make phone calls to members of a Catholic parish in Gaza, Italian broadcaster Mediaset reported.
A parish member said the pope had called on both Friday and Saturday and was in “good humour” but sounded “a bit tired”.
The pope’s next scheduled appointment is his weekly general audience on Wednesday.
He is then due to preside on Sunday at the ordination of deacons as part of a Holy Year weekend.
Both commitments remain on the official Vatican schedule, but appear to be in doubt.
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The pontiff is being treated at Rome’s largest hospital in a suite designed for popes.
The Argentinian pope had part of one lung removed after a pulmonary infection as a young man.
When he had a bad case of pneumonia in 2023, he left hospital after three days – he later said he had been admitted after feeling faint and having a sharp pain in his chest.
In the same year, Pope Francis spent nine days at the Gemelli hospital when he had surgery for an abdominal hernia.
