20-02-2025
Rome's Gemelli Hospital – the Vatican's choice for popes
Rome's Gemelli University Hospital, located just five kilometres from the Vatican, has long been the preferred medical facility for popes.
Situated on Monte Mario in the western part of the Italian capital, Gemelli serves as the teaching hospital of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore).
Founded in 1964, it is regarded as one of Italy's top medical institutions.
The hospital is named after Agostino Gemelli (1878-1959), a Franciscan friar and physician.
It has some 1,800 beds and includes a special section for the pope on the 10th floor, featuring an apartment with a sickroom, several reception rooms, a kitchen, a chapel and meeting spaces.
Security for this section is strictly managed by the Vatican's gendarmerie.
Pope's have been treated in the Gemelli since the papacy of John Paul II (1978-2005).
The Polish pope was treated there 10 times, the first time after an assassination attempt in 1981. John Paul spent considerable time at the hospital during his later years due to frequent illnesses.
Francis is being treated in the Gemelli for the fourth time.
In 2021, he underwent colon surgery. In 2023 he was treated for a respiratory infection, and later that year for a hernia.
He was admitted for the fourth time on Friday after falling ill with bronchitis and is reported to have double pneumonia.
