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Pope Francis hospitalized at Gemelli for bronchitis

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Pope Francis has been admitted to Rome’s Agostino Gemelli Hospital due to worsening bronchitis and has begun pharmacological treatment.

The Vatican confirmed his condition is stable, with a slight fever.

Several upcoming Jubilee events have been adjusted, with Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça presiding over Sunday’s Mass.

The pope has been suffering from bronchitis for more than a week.

Francis will not take part in a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Sunday, the Vatican said later, adding that a planned public audience on Saturday and a visit on Monday to Rome’s famed Cinecitta film studios were cancelled.

Francis, who has been pontiff since 2013, has had influenza and other health problems several times over the past two years. As a young adult he developed a case of pleurisy and had part of one of his lungs removed, and in recent times he has been prone to lung infections.

Earlier this month, Francis told pilgrims at a weekly audience that he was suffering from a “strong cold,” which the Vatican later described as bronchitis.

The pope held several meetings on Friday before going to hospital. One was with Mark Thompson, CEO of the CNN news channel. The pope was “mentally alert but struggling to speak for extended periods due to breathing difficulties,” CNN later reported.

The pope also held meetings with Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, senior Vatican official Cardinal Luis Tagle and with a Catholic philanthropy group that is based in Puerto Rico.

Video of the pope’s meeting with Fico showed Francis sitting at a desk in his Vatican residence, smiling, and speaking in a soft tone.

Francis has been suffering with respiratory issues since mid-December. He begged off reading statements at several of his public events in January and February, attending the occasions but asking aides to read his prepared remarks.

The pope also had two falls recently at his Vatican residence, bruising his chin in December and injuring his arm in January.

Despite his periodic health issues and reduced mobility, Francis has kept up a busy schedule, including foreign travel. In September he completed a 12-day tour across Southeast Asia and Oceania, the longest of his papacy.

Rome’s Gemelli hospital, the largest in the city, has a special suite for treating popes. Francis spent nine days there in June 2023, when he had surgery to repair an abdominal hernia.

Source: Vatican News

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CIABOC arrests Keheliya, wife & daughter

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Former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, his wife and daughter have been arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

They have been arrested over an investigation into their assets, according to the Bribery Commission.

Earlier this morning, former Minister Rambukwella appeared before CIABOC to record a statement.

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05 inmates at Boossa launch rooftop protest

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Five inmates at Boossa Prison launched a rooftop protest this morning (June 18) against officials’ decision to carry out thorough searches inside the prison.

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CMC mayor assumes duties

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Vraie Cally Balthazaar of the National People’s Power (NPP) officially assumed duties as Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) Mayor today (June 18).

The most talked-about candidate in the 2025 Local Government Election, Balthazaar was elected the 26th Mayor of the CMC while receiving 61 votes following a secret ballot on Monday (June 16).

She becomes the second female Mayor of CMC, following Rosy Senanayaka.

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