The 88-year-old pope had part of one lung removed as a young man and over the years had recurring bouts of bronchitis, needing to hospitalised on a number of occasions.
Here we take a look at the pontiff’s health over the years…
1957: While in his early 20s, Pope Francis suffered from a severe respiratory infection that forced doctors to remove part of one lung.
July 2021: The pontiff spent 10 days at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, after having part of his colon removed. The surgery tackled a severe narrowing of his large intestine.
January 2023: Francis underwent a three-hour operation to repair a hernia.
April 2023: The pope was back in hospital with a respiratory infection after feeling a sharp pain in his chest and having trouble breathing.
He was diagnosed an acute bronchitis.
June 2023: The pope underwent abdominal surgery at Gemelli hospital.
14 February 2025: The religious leader was admitted to hospital after battling a bout of bronchitis for more than a week.
19 February 2025: The pope was diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia.
24 February 2025: Blood tests show Francis has an “initial, mild” kidney problem.
28 February 2025: Francis suffers “an isolated breathing crisis” causing him to vomit, provoking a “sudden worsening” of his respiratory condition.
3 March 2025: Pope suffers two episodes of respiratory failure.
23 March 2025: A frail looking pope is discharged from hospital.