Pope Francis made a visit to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Wednesday following his general audience at the Vatican, according to a statement from the Vatican.
“After the general audience, Pope Francis went to the Gemelli Isola Tiberina Hospital for some diagnostic tests,” a Vatican official stated. “Afterward, he returned to the Vatican.”
Earlier in the day during his weekly appearance, Francis mentioned that he “still had a bit of a cold” and requested one of his bishops to conduct a reading.
The 87-year-old pontiff has faced several hospitalizations in the past year. He was admitted for bronchitis in March and underwent intestinal surgery in early June, as per Vatican reports.
According to the Vatican, Francis is scheduled to meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday, March 2, followed by a noontime prayer appearance on Sunday.
Following his hospital visit, the pope’s official X account shared a message on Wednesday: “In this time of #Lent, let us strive not to put ourselves at the center; rather, let us try to step aside to make room for others, to promote them, and to rejoice in their qualities and successes,” the account conveyed.
