Pope Francis is being treated for a “complex clinical situation” and will remain in hospital for as long as necessary, the Vatican has said.
The 88-year-old was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Friday to undergo treatment and tests for bronchitis.
In an update on Monday, the Vatican has said the pontiff has a “polymicrobial infection” of his respiratory tract, which has required a change in his treatment.
Before his admission last week, the Pope had bronchitis symptoms for several days and had delegated officials to read prepared speeches at events.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni told reporters on Monday that the pontiff was in good spirits.
A short statement on his condition said: “All tests carried out to date are indicative of a complex clinical picture that will require appropriate hospitalisation.”
Over the weekend, the Vatican reported that Pope Francis’s condition remained stable and that he had been advised to take “complete rest” to support his recovery.
As a result, he was unable to deliver his usual Sunday prayer in St. Peter’s Square or preside over a special Mass for artists commemorating the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year.
The Argentine pontiff, who has led the Roman Catholic Church for nearly 12 years, has faced various health challenges throughout his life.
In March 2023, he spent three nights in the same hospital receiving treatment for bronchitis.
Later that year, in December, he had to cancel a planned trip to the United Arab Emirates for the COP28 climate summit due to another illness.
Pope Francis’s health history includes undergoing surgery at the age of 21 to remove part of one of his lungs.