Pope Francis could be discharged from hospital ‘in next few days’

Pope Francis has had a marked improvement in his health and could be discharged from hospital “in the next few days”, doctors treating the 86-year-old said on Thursday.

The pontiff was taken to Gemelli hospital in Rome on Wednesday afternoon after complaining of breathing difficulties and chest pain in recent days.

Earlier in the day, Francis was pictured grimacing as he was helped into the popemobile at the end of his weekly audience in St Peter’s Square.

On Thursday a statement from the Vatican, quoting his medical team, said that he had been diagnosed with bronchitis and needed intravenous antibiotics.

“Based on the expected progress [of his health], the Holy Father could be discharged in the coming days,” the statement said. “Pope Francis spent the afternoon at Gemelli hospital devoting himself to rest, prayer and some work.”

Earlier on Thursday his spokesman Matteo Bruni had said: “His clinical picture is gradually improving and is continuing his planned treatment.”

Tests had ruled out Covid-19, heart problems and pneumonia. The statement on Thursday raises hopes that the pope will be discharged soon and could be able to fulfill some of his duties during Holy Week.

Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, vice-dean of the college of cardinals, confirmed to Ansa news agency on Thursday that he would celebrate Palm Sunday mass.

The Vatican had originally said that the pontiff had been admitted to hospital for a check-up that was already on his schedule but speculation built after planned events were cancelled at the last minute.

“They fumbled it again [with the communication],” said Robert Mickens, the Rome-based editor of the English-language edition of Catholic daily newspaper La Croix, before the hospital announced bronchitis. “He’s 86, he’s overweight and he has not slowed down … he was in Africa last month and he has a full schedule of activity every single day. It’s crazy but he’s able to do it.”

In a video message recorded before he was taken into hospital, Francis evoked the conflict in Ukraine as he called war “madness” and argued that “even in cases of self-defence, peace is the ultimate goal”. He has pleaded for peace practically on a weekly basis and repeatedly expressed a wish to act as a peace broker.

Francis, who marked the 10-year anniversary of his papacy earlier this month, had part of one lung removed in his early 20s while training to be a priest in his native Argentina.

In June 2021 he underwent a colon operation and since May last year he has frequently been seen in a wheelchair or using a walking stick because of his knee ailment. The Vatican has not revealed exactly what the problem is, but José María Villalón, the chief doctor at the Spanish football club Atlético de Madrid, was called upon to treat the issue. Villalón, a distinguished doctor in the field of sport traumatology, said in November that Francis, whom he described as “a very charming and very stubborn patient”, had made it clear that the pontiff did not want surgery on his knee.

Francis has often alluded to resigning if bad health prevented him from doing his job. His late predecessor, Benedict XVI, opened up the door to papal resignations and Francis has said that they should become the norm. In an interview with Swiss Radio in early March, he said: “I could quit if I wasn’t lucid.”