Pope Francis was hospitalized in Rome, Italy in February 2025 to battle an illness, sparking worldwide concern about his health. As the pope has battled multiple illnesses over the years, his supporters have been looking for updates on his health.
This is not the first time Francis has been hospitalized. As most people remember, the Argentine leader has struggled with a number of health issues throughout his life, some of which were lung-related complications.
Pope Francis was admitted to a hospital in Rome after battling bronchitis for several weeks. The Vatican released a statement, according to CNN, confirming the news. “This morning, after the end of the audience, Pope Francis will be admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic to undergo some necessary diagnostic tests and to continue his ongoing hospital treatment for bronchitis,” the statement said.
Hours before being taken to the hospital, Francis had an audience at the Vatican. His recent illness has caused concern among his supporters and those in the Vatican.
On February 17, 2025, the Vatican provided an update on Pope Francis’ health, revealing that he was battling a multi-bacterial respiratory infection. As a result, he needed to remain in the hospital for an “appropriate” period of time. The Pope’s treatment plan will include a change in his medication regimen. To aid his recovery, the Vatican also mentioned that he had a quiet weekend, with medical staff prescribing absolute rest.
The following day, The Guardian reported that the Pope had double pneumonia after undergoing further tests at the hospital. According to the news agency, Francis had a chest X-ray, which revealed “the onset of bilateral pneumonia and the need for additional medication.” According to WedMD, bilateral (double) pneumonia affects both lungs in an individual. The condition can cause inflammation and/or scarring of a person’s lungs.
Pope Francis’ Health History
Pope Francis became pope on March 13, 2013, and around that time, it was discovered that he had battled a serious respiratory infection in his early 20s, which led doctors to remove part of his lung.
Since 2021, Francis’ health issues have fueled rumors that he will resign, which the pope has denied. At the time, he underwent intestinal surgery to remove part of his colon while being treated for diverticulitis, a condition that causes inflammation in the colon. According to Reuters, Francis quashed rumors of his resignation when speaking to Spanish radio station COPE, noting that he “didn’t even think about” resigning as pope.
However, rumors resurfaced in 2022 when Francis suffered a knee problem that prevented him from performing some of his duties. As a result, he has been using a wheelchair and a cane ever since.
The following year, Francis was hospitalized for bronchitis. He returned to celebrate the Easter Vigil Mass about a week later. Francis’ 2025 hospitalization was the second time he needed medical attention for bronchitis.
According to CNN, the Argentine leader has suffered from lung problems throughout his life. Francis had previously battled a serious bout of pneumonia, the news agency reported.
