However, Vatican journalist, Diane Montagna, tweeted this around noon CST, in which she quotes sources from Gemelli hospital:
JUST IN: “#PopeFrancis has been admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital: according to hospital sources, he arrived by ambulance & reportedly had heart problems & respiratory fatigue. Audiences scheduled for tomorrow & day after tomorrow have been canceled."
UPDATE | 3:50pm CST
Statement of Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, on the Hospitalization of Pope Francis
March 29, 2023
"We have received word that Pope Francis is receiving treatment for a respiratory infection at Gemelli Hospital in Rome.
He entered the hospital today after experiencing symptoms and tests confirmed the presence of an infection."
UPDATE | 4:55pm CST
After much skepticism regarding the original Vatican statement citing a "regular checkup", Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said that for several days, the pope has “complained of respiratory difficulties” and was admitted Wednesday afternoon to the hospital for a scheduled medical checkup, which revealed the infection.
Prior to Bruni’s second update on the pope’s condition, Argentine journalist Elisabetta Pique, who is close to the pontiff, collaborated an earlier report by Italian news agency ANSA that claimed Francis was admitted to the hospital after suffering “cardiac discomfort.”
The Vatican has further clarified that it is not COVID-19 but it will “require several days of appropriate medical treatment at the hospital.”
Whether "routine checkup" or medical emergency, let’s also use this opportunity to pray for the conversion of Pope Francis and protection for the Catholic Church.
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