Rome, Europe Brief News – Pope Francis was unexpectedly moved on Wednesday 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, Pope Francis 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.
It remains unclear when Francis will return to the Vatican, where Palm Sunday and Holy Week celebrations leading up to Easter will occur next week.
The Argentine-born leader of the Roman Catholic Church held his weekly general audience on St Peter’s Square in front of thousands of believers on Wednesday morning.
He was scheduled to give a television interview afterward, but had to cancel and was taken to the hospital by ambulance instead.
