Fox News reported this week that Pope Francis was recently hospitalized after he experienced difficulty breathing. 

According to the network, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni put out a statement explaining that the pope was examined on Wednesday and found to be suffering from a respiratory infection.

Pope said to be "progressively improving"

"His Holiness Pope Francis rested well during the night. The clinical picture is progressively improving, and the planned treatments continue," Bruni was quoted as saying on Thursday.

"This morning after breakfast, he read some newspapers and went back to work," Bruni continued, adding, "Before lunch he went to the little chapel of the private apartment, where he gathered in prayer and received the Eucharist."

I am touched by the many messages received in these hours and I express my gratitude for the closeness and prayer.

— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) March 30, 2023

Some observers reportedly grew concerned after the pontiff exhibited discomfort while entering and exiting his vehicle during a scheduled event on Wednesday.

Pontiff addresses Nashville school shooting

Francis' plans for Friday have already been canceled and it is as yet unknown whether or not the pope will attend events relating to Holy Week.

Fox News noted that Francis took time to address the deadly shooting in Nashville this week that claimed the lives of three children and three adults at a Christian school via a papal telegram.

"Deeply saddened to learn of the recent shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, his Holiness Pope Francis asks you to convey his heartfelt condolences and the assurance of his prayers to all affected by this senseless act of violence," it read.

"Deeply saddened to learn of the recent shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, his Holiness Pope Francis asks you to convey his heartfelt condolences and the assurance of his prayers to all affected by this senseless act of violence," the telegram added.

Pope underwent colon surgery in 2021

The 86-year-old pope has long experienced medical difficulties, such as in 2021 when 12 inches of his colon had to be removed.

Breitbart cited a report from Luis Badilla, who serves as editor of the semi-official Vatican news aggregator Il Sismografo.

"The Holy Father will certainly return to the Vatican to resume his path in the footsteps of Peter but he will never be the same again," Badilla wrote.

He explained that Francis was "subjected to laparoscopic surgery (almost a sort of scouring of the lower part of the abdominal cavity, with small, very sophisticated probes) and immediately afterwards to an ‘open’ or ‘open sky’ surgical intervention to allow hands-on work with full visibility."