Vatican: Pope Goes to Hospital for Examination

After the general audience in the Paul VI Hall, on Wednesday February 28, Pope Francis went to the Gemelli hospital for a medical examination. He has been suffering from mild flu-like symptoms for several days. At the end of this medical examination, the Sovereign Pontiff returned to the Vatican around noon.

Wednesday morning, at the start of the general audience, Pope Francis explained to those present in the Paul VI room that he was still “suffering from a little cold” and asked one of his fellow bishops, Filippo Ciampanelli, to read for him the catechesis on envy and vain glory.

Matteo Bruni, Director of the Holy See Press Office, confirmed this information in a brief statement: “After the general audience, Pope Francis went to the Gemelli Isola Tiberina hospital to undergo a diagnostic medical examination. Then he returned to the Vatican.”

The Gemelli Isola Tiberina Hospital is the health center formerly known as Fatebenefratelli, located on the Tiber Island, about 3 kilometers from the Vatican, and whose management was taken over by the Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic Foundation in June 2022.

The Pope's Health

Last Saturday, Pope Francis canceled his program “due to a slight case of the flu.” After saying the Angelus prayer on Sunday in front of the faithful gathered in Saint Peter's Square, he again suspended the audiences scheduled for Monday, because he was suffering from “mild flu symptoms, without fever.”

It is not known whether Wednesday's exams were planned, because information from the Holy See has not always been transparent on this subject. Thus, in March 2023, during a similar situation, it was assured that they were planned, but it was easy to see that they had led to the cancellation of commitments. Shortly after, it was learned that the Pope was suffering from pneumonia.

The 87-year-old pontiff has refrained from reading his speeches on several other occasions in recent months: during two general audiences, at the end of November – when he canceled his trip to Dubai on medical advice – and at the beginning of December. On January 12, he chose to distribute the speech he had prepared for attendees at a university meeting.

For the near future, the Holy See Press Room has confirmed that the Pope will receive in audience the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, on Saturday March 2, as planned.