Pope Francis Hospitalized

Francis has made several hospital visits in recent years and had abdominal surgery in 2023.

The recent diagnosis of bronchitis will cause particular concern for the Roman Catholic Church, given Francis has suffered from lung problems for much of his life. As a young man, the Argentine leader suffered from acute pneumonia and had a portion of one lung removed.

Francis was elected pope in 2013, becoming the first South American Pope. He has recently been seen with a walking stick and occasionally utilizes a wheelchair. Last month, he fell and hurt his arm.

Francis also has diverticulitis, which is a common ailment that can cause inflammation or infection of the colon.

Despite his medical concerns, Francis has maintained a hectic schedule, including a 12-day trip to four Southeast Asian and South Pacific nations. That trip was one of the longest any pope has taken, and it covered the most geographical distance (about 20,000 miles) that Francis has gone since becoming the leader of the Catholic Church.

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Pope Francis, who had been admitted to a Rome hospital for bronchitis, is in "fair" condition with a "respiratory tract infection," according to the Vatican on Friday, the latest in a spate of maladies that have sparked worries about the 88-year-old pontiff's health.

Earlier Friday, the Vatican said that Pope Francis had been admitted to Rome's Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic. He showed up "for some necessary diagnostic tests and to continue in a hospital setting treatment for bronchitis that is still ongoing," according to the Holy See. They later verified that he was in the facility and had canceled his meetings for the next three days.