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Pope Francis Rushed to Hospital After Visibly Struggling to Speak

The pontiff has been sick for more than a week.

Pope Francis was taken to a hospital on Friday to receive treatment for bronchitis after he visibly struggled to speak during a meeting earlier in the day, according to a report. The 88-year-old, who has been sick for more than a week, will miss several planned public appearances over the next few days, Reuters reported. “Pope Francis was admitted to the Policlinico Agostino Gemelli for some necessary diagnostic tests and to continue his treatment for bronchitis, which is still ongoing, in a hospital environment,” the Vatican said in a statement to the outlet. Francis has been pope since 2013. Over the past two years, he has experienced a number of health challenges, including bouts of the flu, a hernia, and multiple falls. When he was 21, Francis—then known as Jorge Bergoglio—had one of his lungs removed as a treatment for pleurisy, an inflammation of the membrane in the chest. Despite his health issues, Francis has maintained a busy schedule. In September, he completed a 12-day tour of Southeast Asia, the longest of his tenure as pope.