The doctors treating Pope Francis recommended "absolute rest" for the head of the Catholic Church this Saturday (15), following his hospitalization on Friday to treat a respiratory tract infection.

"To facilitate his recovery, the medical team has prescribed absolute rest," said a Vatican spokesman, quoted by the US news agency Associated Press (AP).

The 88-year-old Pope suffers from bronchitis, which in recent days has made it impossible for him to read some speeches, and was hospitalized on Friday for diagnostic tests and further treatment.

The health problems forced Francis to cancel his schedule until at least Monday, including the usual Sunday Mass, where he was replaced by the Portuguese cardinal José Tolentino Mendonça.

(Photo DR)