Pope Francis was unconscious when he was rushed to a hospital two weeks ago, according to an Italian who reportedly speaks with him regularly and their most recent conversation was on Sunday.

The 86-year-old pontiff was admitted to the Gemelli Hospital in Rome on March 29, suffering from bronchitis. He was discharged three days later and last week, at Catholic Easter services, he appeared in good health.

Michele Ferri, from Pesaro in central Italy, told Reuters the pope sounded better in their recent conversation than when they last spoke in January. “He looked very tired,” last time, she said.

Ferri confirmed the statement he made to a local Italian newspaper, il Resto del Carlino. According to this newspaper, the pope told him: “A few hours even, I’m not sure I would be here telling you about it.”

“I told him: you really scared us!”, said Ferry.

According to Italian media, Ferri has spoken regularly with Francis since the pontiff called him a decade ago to console him over the death of his brother in a robbery. It is known that the pope often speaks on the phone with certain people, whom he met when he offered them a comforting word. The Vatican is not confirming their names, but has not denied speaking with Ferri. But he did not respond to a request for comment on the man’s recent statements.

Last week the pope was quite well and officiated at all Easter services, except for the open-air one on Good Friday, in Rome, due to the unusually cold weather in the city.