Pope Francis Diagnosed with Bilateral Pneumonia, Vatican Confirms

The Vatican announced on Tuesday that Pope Francis has developed bilateral pneumonia, a condition affecting both lungs, marking another health challenge for the 88-year-old pontiff.

Francis, who was admitted to a hospital in Rome last Friday, had initially been diagnosed with bronchitis. On Monday, the Vatican reported that he was battling a polymicrobial respiratory infection, describing his condition as "a complex clinical picture that will require an adequate hospital stay."

A statement released Tuesday confirmed that a chest CT scan conducted that afternoon revealed pneumonia, which will be treated with medication.

Despite his illness, the Vatican reassured that Francis remained in good spirits, spending his day engaged in rest, prayer, and reading. The pope expressed gratitude for the "closeness he feels at this moment" and requested prayers from the faithful.

This marks Francis' fourth hospitalization. In 2023, he underwent abdominal surgery and was also treated for pneumonia. His susceptibility to respiratory conditions stems from a past pulmonary infection in his youth in Argentina, which led to the partial removal of one lung.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Vatican canceled his scheduled audience for Saturday and confirmed that he would not preside over Sunday Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica.

His hospitalization comes as Lent approaches, with Ash Wednesday—marking the beginning of the 40-day Christian observance—falling on March 5 this year.

During last year’s Holy Week, the pope skipped the Good Friday procession at Rome’s Colosseum to conserve his health but later led Easter celebrations attended by tens of thousands.