Pope Francis Hospitalized: A Closer Look at His Health Challenges
Pope Francis has spent the second night in a Roman hospital, as reported by sources close to the pontiff, and has experienced no complications thus far. The 88-year-old head of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics has been hospitalized since Friday with a respiratory illness, as confirmed by the Vatican.
During his time in the hospital, Francis reportedly watched the evening news and had a restful night, indicating that he is stable at this moment. Due to his medical condition, he will be skipping the traditional Angelus prayer that he usually conducts every Sunday at noon in front of thousands of worshippers in St. Peter's Square. The Vatican has stated that the doctors have prescribed absolute rest for the pope.
There had been speculation that the Angelus prayer would be broadcast from the Gemelli hospital in western Rome, but given the current circumstances, that plan seems to have changed.
At 88 years old, Pope Francis is now the second-oldest pope in history, with Pope Leo XIII being the only pope to have lived longer, passing away in 1903 at the age of 93. In recent days, it has been evident that the pontiff's health has been declining. He has struggled with losing his voice during public events and has notably reduced his appearances, not stepping out of the Vatican as frequently as he once did.
Reports indicate that Francis has been advised by his doctors to seek hospitalization for some time now, although it remains uncertain how long this stay will last. Italian news agency Ansa has cited his inner circle, suggesting that the pope may remain in the hospital until the middle of next week.
Since assuming the papacy in March 2013, Francis, as the successor to Benedict XVI, has faced numerous challenges and health issues. As the global religious community holds its breath, the world awaits further updates on the pope's condition and hopes for a swift recovery.
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