Pope Francis in hospital sake of respiratory infection

Di 86-year-old bin get breathing difficulties in recent days but e no get Covid, according to statement from di Vatican.

E say e go need “a few days of appropriate hospital medical therapy”.

“Pope Francis dey touched by di plenty messages wey e don received and e don express his gratitude for the closeness and prayer,” the statement added.

Im closest staff, wey include security, dey expected to stay di night for di Gemelli Hospital, one pesin wit direct knowledge tell BBC.

Dis na di busiest time of di year for Pope Francis, as many events and services dey scheduled ahead of Easter weekend.

Palm Sunday Mass dey scheduled dis weekend, and Holy Week and Easter celebrations next week.

E also dey scheduled to visit Hungary for di end of April.

On Wednesday morning, e bin preside over im weekly general audience for St Peter’s Square. E dey in good spirits but dem help am into im vehicle.

Di Vatican initially tok say di Pope bin go hospital for one scheduled check-up dem bin arrange before, but Italian media bin question dis account afta dem cancel one television interview at short notice.

Reacting to di news, President Joe Biden don ask pipo to make “extra prayer” for di Pope recovery.

Oga Biden, who be only di second Roman Catholic to dey elected leader of di US, also describe di pontiff as one of di “most Christ-like figures I don ever meet”.

Pipo for di Pope home city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, don share dia feelings wit Reuters news agency. One man, Daniel Saco, say di pontiff “must ask himself weda e fit continue”.

“E dey very sad because, as Latin American, I feel represented by dis Pope, wey dey very open-minded and human,” Victoria Veira, wey originally come from Brazil tok.

Anibal Pizelle, wey meet di Pope wen e be bishop of Buenos Aires, say she dey optimistic for a recovery as Francis dey “physically and mentally strong” and na “pesin wit enormous faith”.

Di Pope bin don use wheelchair in recent months because of mobility problems wey relate to im knee.

E also undergo surgery to treat colon problem in 2021. In January, e say di condition don return.

Despite im sickness, di Pope don remain active and e bin travel abroad. He visit di Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan for February.

For January, di Pope lead di funeral of im predecessor Pope Benedict XVI – wey be di first pope to step down voluntarily for centuries. E say dis na sake of im ill health.

Pope Francis don previously indicate say e fit also wish to follow for Benedict footsteps in di event say im health deteriorate.

Pope schedule over Easter

2 April, Palm Sunday: 09:30 (7:30 GMT) Papal Mass, 12:00 Sunday Blessing

5 April: 09:00 Papal General Audience

6 April, Holy Thursday: 09:30 Chrism Mass in St Peter’s Basilica

7 April, Good Friday: 17:00 Passion of the Lord, 21:15 Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum

8 April, Holy Saturday: 20:30 Easter Vigil in St Peter’s Basilica

9 April, Easter Sunday: 10:00 Easter Sunday Mass, 12:00 Urbi et Orbi in St Peter’s Square

10 April, Easter Monday: 12:00, Pasquetta in St Peter’s Square