Doctors order ‘absolute rest’ for hospitalised pope to help him recover from respiratory infection

Francis had part of one lung removed as a young man and has battled other health problems.

He had 33 centimetres of his large intestine removed in 2021 because of a narrowing of the colon. He had further abdominal surgery in 2023 to remove intestinal scar tissue and repair a hernia. He uses a wheelchair, walker or cane when moving around his apartment and recently fell twice, hurting his arm and chin.

Rome’s Gemelli hospital has a private suite for popes on the 10th floor. Francis revealed that during a 2023 hospitalisation, he was actually diagnosed with “an acute and strong pneumonia, in the lower part of the lungs.”

Sometimes bronchitis can lead to pneumonia, a deeper and far more serious infection of the lungs’ air sacs. Doctors may detect pneumonia by listening for a crackling or whistling sound in the lungs while the patient breathes, but often other tests are needed including a chest X-ray and pulse oximetry that measures how much oxygen is in the blood.

Treatment varies by severity but can include providing oxygen through a nasal tube or mask, intravenous fluids — and treatment of the underlying cause of the infection.