Pope Francis Rests Comfortably in Rome Hospital for Second Night

Pope Francis has been hospitalised in Rome due to bronchitis, which he contracted through an infection. The head of the Roman Catholic Church is currently receiving antibiotics intravenously to treat his condition. Despite being hospitalised, the Vatican has said that the Pope is ‘serenely’ spending his time in the hospital. His hospitalisation came four days ahead of Palm Sunday, which marks the beginning of the Holy Week. Although the Vatican has not shared a date on his release, they have stated that he could be discharged in the next few days, depending on the pace of his recovery. It remains unclear whether Pope Francis will be able to preside over or attend Holy Week observances, even if he is back in the Vatican. During this week, he will have to preside over the stamina-taxing late-night Way of the Cross procession marked by prayers on Good Friday at the Colosseum in Rome and Easter Mass on April 9. The Pope had stopped celebrating Mass at major Catholic Church holy days due to his chronic knee problem but presided at the ceremonies and delivered homilies.