Pope Francis spends peaceful night in hospital
Rome, Mar 30 (EFE).- Pope Francis spent a peaceful night in hospital where he will remain for at least two days after being admitted for a respiratory infection, Vatican sources said on Thursday.
The pontiff, 86, was admitted to the Gemelli University Hospital in Rome on Wednesday afternoon.
The Vatican press office said that the pope was suffering from a respiratory infection “that will require a few days of appropriate hospital medical treatment.”
Francis underwent a CT scan of his chest, as well as other medical tests that showed he neither had Covid-19 nor pneumonia, according to the press office.
His illness comes just three days ahead of Palm Sunday, which marks the beginning of Holy Week and the Vatican has not yet confirmed whether the pontiff will be present.
So far, all plans scheduled for Thursday and Friday have been canceled.
Francis’ hospitalization came after the Vatican announced on Wednesday that he would be admitted to the hospital for “previously scheduled checkups”.
The pope was accompanied by his personal nurse Massimiliano Strappetti.
“Pope Francis is touched by the many messages received and expresses his gratitude for the closeness and prayers reaching him,” a Vatican statement said.
This is the second time Francis has been admitted to this hospital, following colon surgery on July 4, 2021, which kept him hospitalized for 10 days.
Since then, the Pope has suffered from an injury in his right knee that forces him to walk with a cane or in a wheelchair.EFE
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