Vatican City:
After a prolonged hospital stay, Pope Francis is set to leave the hospital on Sunday and return to his residence in the Vatican for a minimum of two months of recovery, as confirmed by one of his doctors.
The 88-year-old pontiff was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on February 14 due to breathing difficulties and subsequently dealt with pneumonia in both lungs.
The Vatican announced that on Sunday, the pope plans to wave and give a blessing from Gemelli hospital before leaving.
Dr. Sergio Alfieri stated on Saturday that “tomorrow, the pope will leave the hospital and go back to Saint Martha’s House” in the Vatican, where Pope Francis resides.
The head of the Catholic Church will undergo “an extended period of recovery… lasting at least two months,” Alfieri informed the reporters.
Another hospital doctor, Luca Carbone, mentioned that the pope’s health is showing improvement, and they are hopeful that he will soon be able to resume his regular activities.
Alfieri added, “Further progress will occur at his home, as a hospital – despite seeming contrary – poses a higher risk of contracting infections.”
Dismissal of Resignation Speculation
The pope’s fragile health condition had triggered rumors of a potential resignation, akin to his predecessor, Benedict XVI.
The extended hospitalization has raised concerns about who will oversee the busy schedule of religious events leading up to Easter, the most significant period in the Christian calendar.
For the first time since his election in March 2013, the pope has missed the Angelus prayers, which he typically leads every Sunday, for five consecutive weeks.
The Vatican stated earlier on Saturday that the pope’s appearance on Sunday will follow the Angelus prayers.
Previously, the Vatican announced on Wednesday that Francis had stopped using an oxygen mask.
Throughout most of the pope’s hospitalization, daily updates on Francis’s health were provided by the Vatican, noting that he had undergone lung surgery in his youth.
On Monday, Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin mentioned an improvement in Francis’s health during a visit.
However, when asked about discussions regarding the pope’s resignation, he firmly denied any such talks.
People worldwide, including Catholics, have been offering prayers for his swift recovery, leaving flowers, candles, and messages for Francis outside the Gemelli hospital.
(This article has been syndicated and published without any alterations by NDTV staff except for the headline.)
