Pope Francis Taken to Hospital for Bronchitis After Struggling to Speak

Pope Francis looks on, on the day he leads the Vespers prayer service to celebrate the conversion of St. Paul, at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, in Rome on Jan. 25, 2025. Yara Nardi/Reuters

ROME—Pope Francis was taken to hospital on Friday to continue treatment of his ongoing bronchitis, the Vatican said, after reportedly struggling to speak in one of his meetings in the morning.

“Pope Francis was admitted to the Policlinico Agostino Gemelli for some necessary diagnostic tests and to continue his treatment for bronchitis, which is still ongoing, in a hospital environment,” the Vatican said in a statement.