Pope Francis in hospital for respiratory infection

Agencies | Vatican City

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Pope Francis, 86, was admitted to a hospital in Rome yesterday with a respiratory infection which will require a stay of a few days, the Vatican said.

"In recent days Pope Francis has complained of some breathing difficulties," said Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni in a statement.

The pontiff was admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital for medical checks, which revealed "a respiratory infection... that will require a few days of appropriate hospital medical treatment", Bruni said, adding that a Covid-19 infection had been excluded.

Earlier in the afternoon, the Vatican had said Francis had been admitted "for some previously scheduled checks."