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Pope Francis has been taken to hospital after suffering from a respiratory infection.

The Vatican says he will be spending 'a few days' receiving treatment in Rome following breathing difficulties. It is believed the illness is not Covid-related.

So how concerned should the international Catholic community be about this health scare?

Tom Reese, author of Inside the Vatican, says "the Vatican is terrible when it comes to being transparent about the Pope's health. I think it's partially that he doesn't like to share what his health situation is - and of course that leads to all sorts of speculation. And I think at the beginning the Vatican press office tried to hide that fact that he was sick ... we know now that he was clearly taken to the hospital by an ambulance."

With Easter celebrations fast approaching Reese says "it would be wise for him to drop out of those."

He adds "these are the times that I wish the Pope had a wife who would just come in and say no you're not going to do this, you're going to stay in the hospital, you're going to stay in bed until you're better and then we're going on vacation."

"I think he needs to slow down a bit... but he's like all 85-year-olds, it's hard to tell him what to do".

(Photo: Pope Francis holds weekly general audience at the Vatican. Credit: Reuters)

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