Rome, Europe Brief News – Pope Francis will leave hospital on Saturday after conducting medical tests over the past two days.
Pope Francis is scheduled to take part in a Palm Sunday service the following day, the Vatican said on Friday.
Last Wednesday, Pope Francis was unexpectedly moved to hospital suffering from has a respiratory infection.
The Vatican said in a statement said the 86-year-old pontiff had complained of breathing difficulties in recent days. It added that tests showed he did not have Covid-19.
“Pope Francis is touched by the many messages received and expresses his gratitude for the closeness and prayer,” the Vatican further said.
“In the past days, he had lamented some respiratory difficulties and this afternoon arrived to the Gemelli Hospital for a medical check,” Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni said.
“The result of these [tests] highlighted a respiratory infection (excluding COVID-19 infections) that will require several days of appropriate hospital treatment,” Bruni said.
The Vatican initially said the check-up had been scheduled, but Italian media questioned that, saying a TV interview with the pope set for Wednesday afternoon had been cancelled at the last moment.
He was scheduled to give a television interview afterward, but had to cancel and was taken to the hospital by ambulance instead.
