Pope Francis has spent a quiet first night admitted to the Gemelli Polyclinic hospital, according to Vatican sources. The Pontiff has been hospitalized since yesterday afternoon for a respiratory infection that is not coronavirus and, according to some Italian media, doctors have also ruled out that he suffers from pneumonia.
The Italian news agency Ansa also publishes that the Gemelli nurses are "very optimistic" thinking that, barring any surprises, the Pope can be discharged before the imminent Holy Week celebrations begin with the Palm Sunday mass on the 2nd of April.
The health of Francisco, 86, has caused concern since the Vatican reported yesterday that he was in the hospital for "pre-scheduled checks", something that sparked all kinds of rumors in Rome. In the end, the Holy See had to explain that the Argentine pope had been having difficulty breathing for a few days and his doctors considered that it was best for him to be transferred to the hospital, where he would remain for a few days to receive "appropriate" medical treatment. . The Vatican has cleared its schedule for this Thursday and this Friday and also canceled an interview with an Italian program for a Holy Week special.
The Pope arrived at the Gemelli in a medical vehicle after, after returning from the Wednesday audience, he felt unwell and his private nurse, Massimiliano Strappetti, recommended hospital admission. This is the same toilet that Francisco said he "saved his life" because he convinced him to undergo colon surgery in 2021 in which 33 centimeters of intestine were removed. The audience passed normally, but it did allow the Pope to be seen more tired and serious than usual and with swollen hands.
Now the Jesuit pope is on the same tenth floor of the Roman hospital, which has apartments reserved for the popes, an area that during the long stays of John Paul II became known as "Vatican 3", behind the Castel Gandolfo summer residence. There they are carrying out all kinds of tests, such as a chest CT, and the first results do not suggest a worrying situation.
