Pope Francis, aged 88, has been released from the hospital after undergoing a 38-day stay. The renowned spiritual leader made his first public appearance on Sunday, March 23, following his discharge from the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital in Rome. He addressed a gathered crowd from the hospital’s balcony before being driven back to the Vatican, according to a report from BBC News.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Pope-Francis-Balcony-Rome-032325-01-0f3b56e08ad741d4a4723bb2e7992524.jpg)
Dr. Sergio Alfieri, who led Pope Francis’ medical team, stated that the Pontiff will need a minimum of two months to rest, recover, and undergo rehabilitation. It has been advised that he should refrain from participating in group gatherings during this period. The Pope was initially admitted to the hospital on February 14 for bronchitis and diagnostic tests, as disclosed by the Vatican in an official news release.
During his hospital stay at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital, Pope Francis developed double pneumonia, and his health condition deteriorated over subsequent weeks. However, there were occasional reports of slight improvements from the Vatican during his treatment. The Pope also suffered a second fall in about a month, which resulted in an arm injury.
An audio recording of Pope Francis expressing gratitude for the prayers offered for his recovery was released on Thursday, March 6, from the hospital. Despite being hospitalized, the Pontiff acknowledged the support he received and offered blessings to his well-wishers. Furthermore, Thursday, March 13, marked the 12th anniversary of his papacy, which was commemorated with a cake and candles in his hospital room.
Updates from the Vatican on February 27 indicated that Pope Francis had a restful night and showed signs of improvement. Although he still required high-flow oxygen therapy, there were no indications of respiratory distress. The Pope’s mild kidney insufficiency had also shown signs of improvement at that time. However, Vatican officials maintained that his clinical condition remained intricate and required close monitoring.
In the days leading up to his discharge, Pope Francis was treated for double pneumonia and was considered to be in a critical but stable state. His initial bronchitis diagnosis was announced on February 6, just days before his hospitalization. This is not the first health-related challenge for Pope Francis, as he was previously hospitalized in March 2023 for bronchitis and earlier in the same year for symptoms stemming from an abdominal hernia.
The Pope’s recent hospitalization has garnered widespread attention and concern from followers worldwide. The Vatican has been transparent in sharing updates on his health, highlighting the complexities of his medical condition. As Pope Francis begins his recovery and rehabilitation, the faithful continue to offer prayers and well wishes for his swift return to full health.