Pope Francis will spend a fourth day in hospital and stay there for as long as required, the Vatican has said. The 88-year-old was admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital on Friday to be treated for a respiratory tract infection. A Vatican spokesman said he was in a stable condition, with a further update on his condition expected later on Monday. The pope "slept well" overnight on Sunday, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said.
His doctors have advised complete rest. He was unable to deliver his regular weekly prayer on Sunday to pilgrims in St Peter's Square or lead a special mass for artists to mark the Catholic Church's Jubilee Year. On social media at the weekend, the pope wrote: "Thank you for the affection, prayer and closeness with which you accompany me in these days.". The pope had been suffering from bronchitis for more than a week before he was taken to hospital.
However, from his hospital bed at the weekend, the pope continued to make phone calls to members of a Catholic parish in Gaza, Italian broadcaster Mediaset reported. A parish member said the pope had called on both Friday and Saturday and was in "good humour" but sounded "a bit tired". Follow our channel and never miss an update. The pontiff is being treated at Rome's largest hospital in a designed suite for popes, which was also used by the late Pope John Paul II during his long papacy.
