Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited Pope Francis in hospital on Wednesday, where he is being treated for pneumonia.
Meloni wished the 88-year-old pontiff a speedy recovery on behalf of her government and all of Italy, according to a statement.
Pope Francis was awake and alert, according to Meloni.
The right-wing politician has met the pope on several occasions since Meloni took office in October 2022.
“As always, we joked. He hasn’t lost his proverbial sense of humour,” Meloni said from her official residence in Rome following their meeting at the clinic. The duration of their encounter was not made public.
Pope Francis, the leader of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, has been receiving treatment in a Rome clinic since Friday. A diagnosis on Tuesday determined that he is suffering from bilateral pneumonia, meaning both lungs are inflamed.
The pope has been in poor health for a long time. Pneumonia can be life-threatening, especially at an advanced age and with various pre-existing conditions.
