A Timeline of His Medical Challenges and Care
Since his election as pope in 2013, Pope Francis has faced various health challenges, including three hospitalizations and significant medical issues from his youth. Notably, he underwent major surgery in his early twenties to remove part of one lung due to a severe respiratory infection.
At 86 years old, the pontiff has experienced recurrent bouts of sciatica, causing him considerable pain while walking and standing. In recent times, he strained the ligaments in his knee and suffered a small fracture, necessitating the use of a wheelchair and walker for over a year.
Pope Francis is under the care of his personal physician, Dr. Roberto Bernabei, an internist and geriatric specialist from the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Rome. He also relies on his personal nurse, Massimiliano Strappetti, who works within the Vatican health system. Francis has credited Strappetti with saving his life by diagnosing an intestinal problem in 2021, leading to the nurse being appointed as his “personal health care assistant” in 2022. Both Bernabei and Strappetti accompany the pope on his international trips.
Here’s a timeline of significant health events in the life of Pope Francis:
1957: In Argentina, Francis, then in his early twenties, suffers a severe respiratory infection that results in surgery to remove part of one lung. He later recalls that a nurse’s decision to double his medication was crucial to his recovery.
July 4-14, 2021: Francis spends ten days in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where doctors address a narrowing of the large intestine. They remove 33 centimeters (13 inches) of his colon. After the procedure, he expresses relief but mentions not responding well to general anesthesia.
January 24, 2023: Francis informs The Associated Press that diverticulosis, which led to his 2021 surgery, has returned but is currently manageable.
March 29-April 1, 2023: The pope is admitted to Gemelli Hospital for three days due to a respiratory infection, experiencing sharp chest pain and difficulty breathing. He is diagnosed with acute bronchitis and treated with intravenous antibiotics.
June 6, 2023: Francis undergoes unspecified medical checks at Gemelli Hospital before returning to the Vatican.
June 7, 2023: He is admitted to Gemelli for abdominal surgery related to a blocked intestine, with the Vatican indicating a multi-day hospital stay is anticipated.
Through these health challenges, Pope Francis continues to carry out his papal duties, supported by his dedicated medical team.
