Pope Francis in the hospital for pulmonary infection

Pope Francis has had difficulty breathing in recent days and went to the hospital Wednesday to get treatment for a pulmonary infection, according to the Vatican. The 86-year-old pope does not have COVID-19, but requires several days of therapy, said Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni. The pontiff’s infection was discovered Wednesday during a hospital trip for scheduled tests.

How serious is a pulmonary infection? Lung infections can range from mild to life-threatening, according to the Mayo Clinic. In most cases, the infections can be overcome with proper treatment, though infants and older adults may have a more difficult recovery.

Dig deeper: Read Daniel R. Suhr’s column in WORLD Opinions on the Vatican’s relations with China.