(CNN) — Pope Francis “slept well” his first night in hospital with a respiratory infection, Vatican sources told CNN on Thursday.
The 86-year-old pontiff was taken to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Wednesday and told he will need “a few days of appropriate hospital medical therapy,” Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement.
The Church of Rome expressed “all its closeness and affection to its bishop, Pope Francis, and assures his unceasing prayers, wishing him a speedy recovery,” it said in a statement on Thursday.
Francis, formerly known as Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, had the upper lobe of his right lung removed at age 21 after severe pneumonia, while last hospitalized in 2021 for elective surgery due to symptomatic diverticular stenosis of the lungs. colon.
Francisco’s first message since his hospitalization
Francisco thanked the messages of encouragement received during his hospitalization for a respiratory infection.
In his first tweet in which he acknowledged his illness, Francis said: “I am moved by the many messages received in these hours and I express my gratitude for the closeness and prayer.”
I am moved by the numerous messages that I have received in these hours; I thank everyone for their closeness and their prayers.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex_es) March 30, 2023