Pope Francis spent a quiet night in hospital, Ansa says

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox

People walk outside the Gemelli Hospital where Pope Francis is hospitalised for bronchitis treatment in Rome, Italy, February 15, 2025. REUTERS/Ciro De Luca

Pope Francis, who has been suffering from bronchitis for more than a week, was taken to Rome's Gemelli hospital for treatment on Feb 14.

PHOTO: REUTERS

Follow topic:

ROME - Pope Francis, who is suffering from a respiratory infection, has spent a quiet night in hospital, the Italian news agency Ansa reported on Feb 15.

The pontiff, 88, has been suffering from bronchitis for more than a week and was

taken to Rome’s Gemelli hospital for treatment

on the morning of Feb 14.

According to Vatican sources quoted by Ansa, the Pope had a peaceful night and his fever had gone down.

“There is optimism about the new therapy which began yesterday,” Ansa added.

The Vatican said on the evening of Feb 14 that Pope Francis had undergone diagnostic tests, which indicated a respiratory tract infection. Vatican officials have not yet given an official update on Feb 15.

Pope Francis, who has been pontiff since 2013, has had influenza and other health problems several times over the past two years. As a young adult, he developed a case of pleurisy and had part of one of his lungs removed, and in recent times he has been prone to lung infections.

He has been suffering with respiratory issues since mid-December. He begged off reading statements at several of his public events in January and February, attending the occasions but asking aides to read his prepared remarks.

Gemelli hospital, Rome’s largest, has a special suite for treating popes. Pope Francis

spent nine days there in June 2023

, when he had surgery to repair an abdominal hernia. REUTERS

See more on