Tue Feb 18 23:08:00 UTC 2025: ## Pope Francis Hospitalized with Bilateral Pneumonia
**Rome, Italy –** Pope Francis has been hospitalized at Rome’s Gemelli hospital with bilateral pneumonia, the Vatican announced Tuesday. The 88-year-old pontiff, who previously had part of a lung removed, was admitted Friday after a bout of bronchitis worsened into a polymicrobial respiratory tract infection. Further tests revealed the pneumonia, requiring additional medication.
While the Vatican described the Pope’s condition as complex, spokesman Matteo Bruni reported that Francis is in good spirits and grateful for prayers. He is reportedly eating, reading, and working from his hospital room, though he is not currently using supplemental oxygen. The duration of his stay remains undetermined, as treatment for his condition requires an “adequate” period.
The Pope’s hospitalization has resulted in the cancellation of several events, including his weekly general audience and a Holy Year Mass for deacons. Other Vatican business continues, however, with Cardinal Pietro Parolin completing a visit to Burkina Faso and Cardinal Michael Czerny preparing for a trip to Lebanon. The upcoming Holy Year weekend dedicated to volunteers is also in question.
This hospitalization marks a longer absence for the Pope than his 2023 pneumonia-related stay. The Vatican has attributed the current situation to a combination of factors, including the Pope’s admitted non-compliance with medical advice and his insistence on maintaining a busy schedule despite his illness. He reportedly ignored recommendations to rest even after his bronchitis diagnosis. A rainbow appeared over the Gemelli hospital on Tuesday afternoon.
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