Pope in hospital with ‘polymicrobial infection’ of respiratory tract

“All the tests performed to date indicate a complex clinical picture that will require an appropriate hospital stay,” said the bulletin.

The 88-year-old Pope was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on February 14 after more than a week of suffering from bronchitis and difficulty breathing. He was diagnosed with a respiratory tract infection. Polymicrobial means multiple pathogens are involved.

Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office, had told reporters earlier on February 17 that the Pope slept well, woke up and had breakfast and was reading newspapers and continuing his therapy. He was in a good mood, Bruni said.

There was no information on when the Pope would be released from the hospital, although his weekly general audience on February 19 was cancelled. 

The Prefecture of the Papal Household, which organises many of the Pope’s meetings, reportedly cancelled appointments scheduled through to February 22.

In a previous update, the Vatican said that Pope Francis thanked people for their messages of concern and affection, and asked people to continue praying for him.

Pope Francis has been an inpatient at the Gemelli hospital several times.

In March, 2023, he was hospitalised for three days for what doctors said was a “respiratory infection”.

In June, 2023, he underwent a three-hour surgery to repair a hernia, and spent nine days at the hospital, where St John Paul II had been hospitalised multiple times.

In July, 2021, he underwent colon surgery, and spent seven days in hospital.

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Pope’s therapy adjusted again after tests reveal ‘polymicrobial infection’ – OSV News (By Cindy Wooden/OSV News)

Pope, from hospital, thanks people for their prayers | The Catholic Weekly (The Catholic Weekly/OSV News)