Pope Francis will not lead his customary Sunday Angelus prayer and address to pilgrims after being hospitalized on Friday due to a respiratory tract infection, the Vatican has confirmed.
Doctors have prescribed “absolute rest” for the 88-year-old pontiff, who is receiving treatment at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where a special suite is designated for popes. The facility also treated the late Pope John Paul II during his papacy.
“To facilitate his recovery, the medical staff prescribed complete rest,” the Vatican said in a statement.
The pope has been kept informed of the outpouring of well wishes from around the world and has expressed his gratitude, urging the faithful to continue praying for him.
Medical tests have shown signs of improvement, with his fever subsiding on Saturday.
The Vatican reported that Pope Francis had received communion, spent time in prayer, and was also reading and resting. However, officials have not provided a timeline for his discharge.
“We will see how he reacts to treatment,” said Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican’s press office, adding that there was no “precise date” for his return.
Pope Francis has faced several health challenges in recent years. In June 2023, he underwent abdominal hernia surgery at the same hospital, where he stayed for nine days.
His respiratory issues date back to his youth when he had part of a lung removed due to pleurisy, making him more susceptible to lung infections later in life.
On Saturday, well-wishers gathered under a statue of Pope John Paul II outside Gemelli Hospital, offering prayers for the pontiff’s recovery.
The Vatican has assured the public that updates on his condition will be provided as needed.