Pope Francis has been prescribed “complete rest” following his hospitalization for bronchitis on Friday, according to the Vatican.
Doctors at Rome’s Agostino Gemelli Hospital confirmed the 88-year-old pontiff was suffering from a respiratory tract infection, and that they’ve “slightly modified” his treatment based on the results of his microbiological tests.
Additional diagnostic tests carried out Saturday morning indicated “improvement in some values,” the Vatican said, noting the pope “rested throughout the night without experiencing episodes of fever.”
Citing doctor’s orders, the Vatican said Francis would not deliver his traditional Sunday noon blessing, which he could have done from his hospital room had he been up for it.
His schedule has been canceled through at least Monday, though how long he remains at Gemelli will be determined by how he reacts to his treatment.
Francis was hospitalized on Friday after a weeklong bout of bronchitis took a turn for the worse. He’s recently complained of respiratory problems — with Vatican aides reading his homilies and speeches — and was diagnosed with bronchitis on Feb. 6.
But Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said that Francis appeared to be in good spirits, telling reporters on Saturday that the pontiff had taken to reading newspapers after presiding over his morning masses.
The pope’s latest medical woes have revived concerns over his health. In 2021, he had part of his large intestine removed, and he currently uses a wheelchair, cane or walker because of bad knee ligaments and sciatica nerve pain.
Last month, he also injured his right arm in a fall, forcing him to wear a sling.
As a young man, Francis also suffered from severe pneumonia and had to have part of one lung removed as a result.