Pope Francis has decided to complete his Friday morning audiences before leaving the Vatican, despite difficulties in speaking for long periods due to respiratory issues. The Holy See has confirmed that the canceled audiences will be rescheduled later. Although the pope's participation in future events seems uncertain, they remain on the official Vatican agenda.
In a Jubilee Mass dedicated to artists last Sunday, a cardinal replaced the pontiff, indicating the possible severity of Pope Francis's condition. The Vatican communicated that the pope's respiratory infection presents a complex clinical picture, which has required adjustments in his pharmacological treatment. Test results indicate that the 88-year-old pope is suffering from a multi-bacterial respiratory infection that demands more time in the hospital.
Although no timeline has been established for his hospital stay, it has been emphasized that Pope Francis's medical situation is delicate and will require continuous care. This infection has already kept the pontiff in the hospital longer than a previous hospitalization for pneumonia in 2023, raising concerns about his future commitments. Nevertheless, it was reported that the pope carried out some of his morning routines on Monday and received his treatments.
Pope Francis was admitted to the Gemelli Hospital in Rome in stable condition last Friday after a bronchitis he had been suffering from worsened. He had planned to attend an event at the Cinecittà studios in Rome before his hospitalization. Although no advance announcements are made regarding his private audiences, the weekly general audience on Wednesday and the ordination of deacons next Sunday remain scheduled on his agenda.
The doctors treating the pope have recommended complete rest and a change in his pharmacological treatment to address an infection in his respiratory tract. Despite presenting a mild fever, it was later reported that his condition was stable. It should be noted that Pope Francis had pneumonia in 2023, from which he recovered in three days; however, he later admitted that he was admitted urgently after experiencing weakness and chest pain due to complications.
