Pope Francis Returns to Vatican After Five Weeks in Hospital

Pope Francis returned to the Vatican on Sunday after a five-week battle with bilateral pneumonia in the hospital. It was the most serious health crisis he had experienced in his 12 years as Pope.

Shortly after noon on Friday, the 88-year-old Pope Francis left Gemelli Hospital in Rome, where he had been hospitalized since February 14, making his first public appearance.

Accompanied by police cars, the Pope rode through Rome in a car before heading to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major.

Although the Pope has been discharged, his doctors say his elderly body still needs “a lot of time” to fully recover.

Doctors have advised him to rest for another two months at the Vatican and to avoid attending large or stressful meetings. It is unclear how many activities Pope Francis will participate in over the next few months.

Before leaving the hospital on Sunday, Pope Francis smiled and waved to a crowd of well-wishers gathered outside. He was still seated in a wheelchair, as he has been in recent years.

His face appeared slightly swollen, and during the brief appearance, bandages could be seen wrapped around his arms under his white robe.

During his previous hospitalization, Pope Francis had only made one public appearance. A photo released by the Vatican last week showed the Pope praying in a small chapel in the hospital.

Throughout his hospital stay, the Pope needed oxygen to assist with breathing. However, during his public appearance on Sunday, he was able to breathe on his own. Some observers noted that he still used a small nasal tube for oxygen during the car ride.

Pope Francis has been in office since 2013, and his current hospitalization began with bronchitis, which later developed into bilateral pneumonia. Doctors said the pneumonia was caused by a “complex” infection involving various microorganisms.

During his illness, Pope Francis experienced four acute episodes, described by the Vatican as “respiratory crises,” including severe coughing caused by bronchial constriction, similar to asthma attacks.

The head of the Pope’s medical team said during a press conference held on Saturday that two of these crises were very serious, putting Pope Francis “in a life-threatening situation.”

While the Pope is no longer suffering from pneumonia, he has not fully recovered either.

During his hospitalization, Pope Francis continued to lead the affairs of the Church.

However, his two-month rest in the future may have a significant impact on the Vatican’s schedule of activities, raising questions about whether he will be able to fulfill some of his original commitments.

(Reference: Reuters)