18.92°C Vancouver

Feb 28, 2024 5:40 PM - The Associated Press

Pope Francis has been taken briefly to a Rome hospital after his weekly audience

Share On
pope-francis-has-been-taken-briefly-to-a-rome-hospital-after-his-weekly-audience
The 86-year-old pope was pushed in a wheelchair into the audience hall at the Vatican earlier in the day, appearing weary as he dropped heavily into his seat. (Photo: The Canadian Press)

Pope Francis, who has beensuffering from the flu, was brought to a hospital in central Rome after the papal audience on Wednesday, arriving at the Gemelli Hospital on Tiber Island in a small white Fiat 500 and leaving again under escort in the same car after a short period. The Vatican had no immediate comment.

The 86-year-old pope was pushed in a wheelchair into the audience hall at the Vatican earlier in the day, appearing weary as he dropped heavily into his seat. In recent weeks he has walked the short distance to his chair, but he has been struggling with mild flu symptoms the past week.

The pope also canceled appointments Saturday and Monday due to the flu, but appeared as usual for the Sunday blessing from a window overlooking St. Peter's Square.

Last week, Francis coughed repeatedly during Ash Wednesday services that he presided over at a Roman church, and opted not to participate in the traditional procession that inaugurates the church’s Lenten season.

This time of year in 2020, just as the coronavirus pandemic was starting to hit Italy, Francis also suffered a bad cold that forced him to cancel several days of official audiences and his participation in the Vatican’s annual spiritual retreat. The Vatican had already scrubbed the retreat for this year in favor of personal spiritual exercises

The Argentine pope had part of one lung removed as a young man because of a respiratory infection, and in 2021 had a chunk of his colon removed because of an intestinal inflammation. He has been using a wheelchair and cane since last year because of strained knee ligaments and a small knee fracture that have made walking and standing difficult.

The Pope used his brief words at the end of Wednesday's audience to mark the 25th anniversary of the ratification of the Anti-Personnel Mines Convention, expressing his “closeness to the numerous victims of these insidious devices that remind us of the dramatic cruelty of war.”

He also appealed for peace in the Middle East, Ukraine and prayed for the victims of attacks in Burkina Faso and Haiti.

At the end of the audience, the pope spent about an hour greeting the faithful from his wheelchair, stopping to talk, bless babies and exchange gifts.

Latest news

canada-wins-bronze-at-womens-3x3-basketball-world-cup
CanadaJun 30, 2025

Canada wins bronze at women's 3x3 basketball World Cup

Canada's women's team has won the bronze medal in the FIBA ​​3X3 Basketball World Cup. The Canadian team defeated Poland 21-9 in the bronze medal match at the World Cup played in Mongolia. Paige Crozon was a key contributor to the Canadian team's victory, scoring 13 points and grabbing 5 rebounds. Meanwhile, Saicha Grant Allen scored 5 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in the match. The 6th ranked Canadian team lost 15-21 to the Netherlands in the semi-final match yesterday. The Netherlands team managed to win the gold medal in this World Cup. Host Mongolia finished second in this tournament.
income-tax-cut-for-middle-class-to-take-effect-tomorrow-mark-carney
CanadaJun 30, 2025

Income tax cut for middle class to take effect tomorrow: Mark Carney

Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced that income tax cuts for the middle class will take effect tomorrow. The government has reduced the lowest personal income tax rate from 15 to 14 per cent. According to the Carney government's estimates, 22 million Canadians will benefit from this. PM Carney had promised this during the election campaign and said after the election that this cut would be implemented from Canada Day. This tax cut will apply to the two lowest tax brackets, the first whose taxable income in 2025 is up to $114,750 and the second whose income will be up to $57,375 in the
attorney-generals-statement-on-inquiry-into-event-safety
BCJun 30, 2025

Attorney general’s statement on inquiry into event safety

Niki Sharma, Attorney General, has released the following statement about the Commission of Inquiry into Community Events Safety in B.C. “On Saturday, April 26, 2025, British Columbia experienced one of the worst moments in our history, when a senseless act of violence turned a Lapu-Lapu Day celebration into a tragedy that left 11 people dead and countless more injured and traumatized. “In the aftermath, British Columbians understandably raised questions about enhancing public safety so people can feel safe attending and celebrating community events of all sizes this summer. That is why Pr
canada-sprint-canoeist-katie-vincent-sets-world-record-at-national-trials
CanadaJun 30, 2025

Canada: Sprint canoeist Katie Vincent sets world record at national trials

Canadian sprint canoeist Katie Vincent has set a world record in the C-1 500-meter event. Katie Vincent set the world record during the National Trials in Montreal on Sunday. 29-year-old Olympic champion Katie Vincent set a new record by completing the event in 2 minutes 0.609 seconds. The previous world record was held by Alena Nazdarova of Belarus, who set the record at the World Championships in Hungary in 2019 with a time of 2 minutes 0.73 seconds. Quebec's Sophia Jensen, a World Cup silver medalist, took second place in yesterday's trials.
man-arrested-in-connection-with-slashing
CanadaJun 30, 2025

Man arrested in connection with slashing

A man has been arrested and White Rock RCMP are investigating after reports another man was stabbed. White Rock RCMP received 9-1-1 calls advising of a fight involving a knife in the 1100 block of Oxford Street on Sunday June 29, 2025 at 9:50 p.m. Upon arrival, police observed a vehicle attempting to leave the scene and a high-risk traffic stop was initiated. A man matching the suspect description was inside the vehicle and he was arrested and transported to White Rock RCMP cells. “We want to thank the 9-1-1 callers who gave timely information which enabled us to locate and arrest the susp

Related News