(CNN) — Pope Francis is suffering from a respiratory infection and will be hospitalized for “a few days,” Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement Wednesday.
The 86-year-old pontiff was admitted to a hospital in Rome due to some respiratory problems, the statement said. “In recent days, Pope Francis complained of some respiratory problems and this afternoon he went to the A. Gemelli Polyclinic for a medical examination,” the statement added.
“The result showed a respiratory infection (which avoids infection by Covid-19), which required a few days of hospital medical treatment,” the report continued. And he said Francis was “touched by the many messages received and expresses his gratitude for the closeness and prayer”.
The Vatican initially said the pope had been taken to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for scheduled tests. Shortly after, he announced that his schedule for this Thursday had been canceled “to make room for continuing exams if necessary.”
It was previously reported that the pontiff went to the Gemelli Hospital in Rome to undergo scheduled tests.
Earlier, Francis appeared in good health participating in the weekly mass in St. Peter’s Square.
