Pope Francis hospitalized briefly after dealing with flu symptoms

Pope Francis was briefly hospitalized in Rome on Wednesday after suffering from flu symptoms for a number of days.

The Vatican has yet to clarify the nature of the short visit. The pope had canceled appearances on both Saturday and Monday due to his flu symptoms, but he did make the traditional Sunday blessing.

Francis, 86, could also be heard coughing repeatedly during Ash Wednesday services earlier this month.

The pope has had a number of health issues in recent years, including having a piece of his colon removed in 2021 due to intestinal inflamaton. He has been regularly using a cane and a wheelchair for nearly a year.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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