Pope Francis Receives Care at Rome's Gemelli Hospital Amid Respiratory Challenges**

Gemelli Hospital, known for its long association with popes, is once again in the spotlight as Pope Francis, admitted with pneumonia, continues the legacy of notable former patients like Pope John Paul II.**

Pope Francis is currently receiving treatment for pneumonia at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, a facility with a deeply-rooted history of caring for popes. This medical center, often referred to as the "Pope's Hospital," has an enduring connection with papal health care, dating back to the time of Pope John Paul II, who was treated there numerous times during his 27-year pontificate.

Located in the heart of Rome, Gemelli Hospital boasts over 1,500 beds and was founded in the 1960s on land gifted by Pope Pius XI. John Paul II famously dubbed Gemelli "Vatican Three," alongside St. Peter's Square as Vatican One and the papal residence at Castel Gandolfo as Vatican Two. The hospital features a designated Papal suite, complete with a modestly furnished apartment that includes a private living area, chapel, and accommodations for aides.

Pope Francis's recent admission, prompted by a respiratory infection, marks another chapter in Gemelli's history with papal patients. While the Vatican has confirmed his condition as pneumonia affecting both lungs, Francis has a track record of resilience, having undergone treatments in the past, such as a colon operation in 2013 and surgeries for various ailments leading up to this hospitalization.

The hospital's tenth-floor Papal suite remains under tight security, monitored by both Italian state police and Vatican gendarmerie. Despite the gravity of his situation, the Pope has been known to express gratitude towards his medical team, even sharing moments of levity, like baptizing a newborn and sharing pizza with staff during previous stays.

As Pope Francis battles pneumonia, well-wishers continue to gather outside Gemelli to offer prayers for his recovery, laying flowers, cards, and candles in tribute, illuminating the bond between the pontiff and his followers in times of need.