Pope Francis' hospital stay extended due to 'complex clinical picture'

Pope Francis' hospital stay will be extended after his respiratory tract infection presented a "complex clinical picture," the Vatican said on Monday.

The 88-year-old pontiff — who is already one of the oldest in the church's history — will also undergo a change in treatment.

Vatican spokesperson Mattero Bruni said the results of tests conducted in recent days and Monday indicate the pope is suffering from a "polymicrobial respiratory tract infection".

Bruni gave no timeline for the treatment, but said the complexity of his symptoms will "require an appropriate hospital stay".

He said Pope Francis slept well, read some newspapers and ate breakfast.

The pope was checked to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome last week for "diagnostic tests" relating to a respiratory tract infection. His office confirmed his meetings for that week were cancelled, including his scheduled Wednesday audience.

He also missed the weekly Angelus prayer on Sunday for only the second time in his almost 12-year-long papacy.

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was chosen as the head of the Catholic Church in 2013.

He had part of one lung removed after suffering severe pneumonia as a young man in his native Argentina. In recent months, he also suffered two falls and injured his arm.

In 2023, he was admitted to hospital for bronchitis after reportedly experiencing breathing difficulties.