Pope Francis was in a Rome hospital for a medical check-up Tuesday, according to Italian media, just over two months after he was hospitalized with bronchitis.
Neither the Vatican nor the hospital was immediately able to confirm the news to AFP.
Francis was forced to take a day off at the end of last month with a fever, which the Vatican secretary of state blamed on tiredness.
Tuesday’s check-up was a planned one, the Repubblica newspaper said, citing a Vatican source.
When Francis was hospitalized at the end of March the Vatican initially said in a one-line statement that he had gone into the Gemelli for health checks that were previously scheduled.
He was diagnosed with bronchitis and stayed in hospital for three nights, before returning to the Vatican to preside over Easter services.
Asked how he felt, he quipped with a big smile, “I am still alive!”
He has persistent pain in his right knee as well as sciatica, and his hospital stay for bronchitis sparked widespread concern.
It also fueled speculation over his future.
Francis’ predecessor, Benedict XVI, who died in December, quit over failing health in 2013.
