Pope Francis is expected to leave the hospital tomorrow after a speedy recovery that has seen him eat pizza with staff and even baptize a baby.
Fears for the pope’s health increased on Wednesday when the Vatican revealed that the 86-year-old would remain in hospital for “several days” to treat a respiratory infection that had caused him breathing difficulties.
But doctors have now approved the ink to be discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Saturday.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni also said that Francis will be in St. Peter’s Square for a Palm Sunday mass at the start of Holy Week, though he didn’t say if the pope would deliver the homily during the particularly long service.
“The medical team following up on His Holiness Pope Francis, after evaluating the results of the tests carried out today and the favorable clinical recovery, confirmed the discharge on Saturday,” Bruni said in a written statement Friday evening.
Pope Francis is expected to leave the hospital tomorrow after a speedy recovery that has seen him eat pizza with staff and even baptize a baby.
Fears for the pope’s health increased on Wednesday when the Vatican revealed that the 86-year-old would remain in hospital for “several days” to treat a respiratory infection. He was seen earlier that day grimacing
Throughout the day, heartwarming images of the pope popping up in the hospital baptizing a baby and visiting the children’s ward.
In a video of the baptism released by the Vatican, after mother tells Francis the boy’s name, Miguel Angel, the pope uses a metal hospital tray usually used to hold syringes to pour water on the sleeping baby’s head.
He then tries to calm the infant, who wakes up crying and seems to be slipping away from the Pope’s hand.
Then the pontiff asks the mother to dry her son’s wet forehead before telling her: “When you go to your parish, say that the Pope baptized him.”
Mr Bruni, who described the pontiff’s medical recovery as “normal”, said earlier in the day that on Thursday evening, “the pope dined, ate pizza, with all those who help him in these days of hospital stay”, including doctors. . nurses, aides and Vatican security personnel.
The Vatican said the pope responded well to antibiotic treatment for bronchitis, which led to a “noticeable” improvement in his health.
He was smiling as he visited the children’s cancer ward and presented large chocolate-coated Easter eggs.
Earlier in the day, Francis sent out a tweet on Friday possibly inspired by the current health challenge he faces.
The Pope also visited the children’s cancer ward at Gemelli Hospital, where he delivered Easter eggs to the children
The Vatican said the pope (pictured in the oncology ward) had responded well to antibiotic treatment for bronchitis which led to a “marked” improvement in his health.
Doctors approved the pontiff to be discharged from Gemelli Hospital in Rome on Saturday. Pictured: Pope Francis writing in a visitors’ book
Francis wrote: “When we are tested by faith, the trials and difficulties of life purify our hearts, making them more humble, and therefore more and more open to God.”
The Vatican seemed eager to quickly dispel any concerns about the pope’s fitness to continue his duties fully.
Almost immediately after the announcement of Francis’ discharge date, the Vatican announced that the pope would meet with the prime minister of Bosnia-Herzegovina on Monday in a private audience at the Apostolic Palace.
The hospital stay came days before one of the busiest times of the year for the pope as Palm Sunday mass approaches, which usually draws tens of thousands of faithful, including many pilgrims from abroad, who flock to Rome for Holy Week.
Francis had already largely stopped celebrating Mass on the Holy Days of the major Catholic Church due to a chronic knee problem, but he continued to officiate ceremonies and preach sermons.
Holy Week dates include the endurance-filled late-night Way of the Cross procession, which features prayers on Good Friday at the Colosseum in Rome and the Easter Mass on April 9, which is traditionally followed by a long papal address delivered from the central balcony of the building. St. Peter’s Cathedral.
During Wednesday’s hour-long audience, Francis at times seemed visibly in pain as he moved around with help from assistants.
In July 2021, Francis underwent surgery at Gemelli Polyclinic after experiencing a narrowing of his colon. As a young man in Argentina, part of Francis’ lung was removed and he often spoke in a whisper.
