Pope Francis is set to be discharged from the hospital on Sunday following a five-week battle with bilateral pneumonia. His doctors reported that he has shown significant improvement and plans to greet the public from his hospital window, marking his first public appearance since February.
Key Facts
– Doctors stated on Saturday that Pope Francis has made substantial progress over the past week. However, he will need to continue resting and receiving medical care for at least two months at his Vatican residence after his discharge.
– The Pope received treatment for an acute respiratory tract infection alongside bilateral pneumonia and endured two critical episodes where his life was at risk.
– Following his release, Francis will make a public appearance by blessing the crowd from the window of the Gemelli hospital on Sunday afternoon, a fact confirmed by the Vatican’s official news account on X.
– The Vatican previously announced that as of Friday, the Pope “no longer requires mechanical ventilation” and is using a lower flow of oxygen through a nasal tube. His condition remains stable, with improvements noted in both motor and respiratory functions.
– Cardinal Victor Fernandez indicated on Friday that Pope Francis might need to “relearn to speak” due to the oxygen therapy, with doctors confirming a temporary “loss of voice” as a normal consequence of the pneumonia treatment.
Why Was Pope Francis Hospitalized?
Pope Francis was admitted to the hospital on February 14 for a respiratory infection. The following week, the Vatican indicated that he was in “critical” condition and still “not out of danger.” He required high-flow oxygen to aid his breathing and had to undergo blood transfusions. At that time, he was diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs alongside bacterial, viral, and fungal infections, compounded by his chronic bronchitis. On February 23, the Vatican reported that he had experienced “mild” kidney failure and faced a “long asthmatic respiratory crisis” the day prior. By early March, the Pope had been fever-free and off ventilation, with his condition reportedly improving. The Vatican recently released a photo of him praying in a hospital chapel, marking the first image of the Pope since his hospitalization.
Key Background
At 88 years old, Pope Francis has served as the head of the Catholic Church for over a decade and has faced periodic health concerns. His hospitalization history includes a July 2021 stay for a narrowing of the large intestine and another for bronchitis two years later. The Pope has long dealt with chronic lung issues following the partial removal of a lung due to a pulmonary infection in his youth. Speculation about his potential resignation has arisen, especially after the resignation of his predecessor, Benedict XVI; however, Cardinal Fernandez reaffirmed on Friday that the Pope has no intention of resigning.
