Italy’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, has provided the latest update on Pope Francis, who is currently in hospital.
The Pope has been diagnosed with pneumonia, a serious infection that can inflame and scar the lungs, causing chest pain and making breathing more difficult.
He was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital last Friday with a respiratory infection affecting both lungs.
However, speaking about the Pope, Meloni said the 88-year-old was very alert and responsive.
In a statement on Wednesday, Meloni said she was “very happy to have found him [the Pope] alert and responsive.”
“We joked as always. He hasn’t lost his proverbial sense of humour,” she added.
Meloni also offered the Pope her best wishes for a speedy recovery on behalf of the Italian government and the entire country.
Earlier, the Vatican said medical tests and a chest X-ray revealed “a complex picture.”
The Pope has reportedly told confidants that he may not be able to survive a case of pneumonia.
