Pope Francis, who has spent over five weeks in the hospital, is set to be discharged soon. However, the head of his medical team, Dr. Sergio Alfieri, indicated that the 88-year-old pontiff will need an additional two months of rest at the Vatican.
Dr. Alfieri shared, “The Holy Father was very happy to hear that his health has improved enough for him to leave Gemelli Hospital in Rome.” Yet, he cautioned that the pope must still undergo “at least two months” of recovery.
The pontiff’s discharge is expected to take place in the early afternoon.
Notably, this hospitalization marks the longest of Pope Francis’s papacy and his fourth since he was elected in 2013. His increasingly delicate health has led to widespread speculation about whether he might consider resigning, following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Benedict XVI.
As Dr. Alfieri explained, “Further progress will take place at his home; a hospital, even if this seems strange, is the worst place to recover, as it can lead to further infections.” Thankfully, the Vatican announced on Wednesday that the pope is now breathing without the assistance of an oxygen mask.
Upon his return, he will reside in Saint Martha’s House at the Vatican, where he has his residential suite. However, Dr. Alfieri firmly stated that Pope Francis won’t be able to dive right back into his daily responsibilities. “Convalescence, by definition, is a period of rest,” he emphasized, making it clear that the pope won’t take on his usual appointments during this time.
This raises questions about who will lead the busy religious schedule as Easter approaches. The pope has missed the Angelus prayers—typically recited by him every Sunday—for the past five weeks. Addressing speculation about Francis resigning, Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin responded emphatically: “No, no, no, absolutely not.”
In the meantime, Catholics and individuals from around the world have been uniting in prayer for the pope’s swift recovery, leaving flowers, candles, and heartfelt messages outside Gemelli Hospital.
During the peak of his hospital stay, the pope faced alarming challenges, spending weeks on assisted breathing with nasal tubes and an oxygen mask. His doctors noted that he experienced “very critical” moments when his life was at risk, yet he remained conscious throughout. It wasn’t until a month into his treatment that he was declared out of danger.
The pneumonia he’s battled will require physical rehabilitation to restore his voice. Dr. Alfieri explained, “When you suffer bilateral pneumonia, your lungs are damaged, and your respiratory muscles are strained. It takes time for the voice to return to normal.”
Although Pope Francis has not made a public appearance since February 14, the Vatican did share a photo on March 16 of him praying in a chapel within his hospital room. Additionally, an audio recording released on March 6 featured the pope expressing gratitude in a weak voice to those praying for him.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
