Pope Francis praised hundreds of people gathered outside the Gemelli Hospital in Rome on Sunday while the Pontiff left the hospital After surviving a deadly pneumonia fight.
During his first public appearance in five weeks, he said that Pope, 88, said “Thank you, everyone”, when he gave a boost and recognized the crowd after being on the hospital balcony overlooking the main entrance to the building.
Songs of “Viva Il Dad!” And “dad Francesco” broke out the crowd.
Filippo Monteforte / AFP via Getty Images
Its appearance occurred for a few minutes before a cortage carrying Francis made its way through the light traffic of Rome on Sunday morning on the way to a neighboring church before going to the Vatican.
The security guards told the Associated Press that Francis was heading for the St. Mary Major basilica, where his favorite Madonna icon is located and where he will always pray after a foreign visit.
Once in the Vatican, Francis will start two months of rest and convalescence when he continues his rehabilitation at home.
Tiziana Fabi / AFP via Getty Images
The Argentinian pope, who suffers from a chronic lung disease and who had a part of a lung withdrawn as a young man, was Hospital admitted On February 14, after bronchitis, it was difficult for him to speak. Doctors at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome quickly diagnosed Francis with double pneumonia.
The first three weeks of his hospitalization were marked by roller coaster, including respiratory crises,, Light renal failure And a severe cough adjustment, which forced doctors to put Francis on a mechanical ventilation mask.
“During his hospitalization, he presented two critical episodes in which the life of the Holy Father was in danger,” Gemelli’s medical director said on Saturday evening, Dr. Sergio Alfieri. “He subsequently made slow but progressive improvements.”
Alfieri said that Francis will continue medication “for a long time and will observe at least two months of rest” after his discharge.
“At the Vatican, we have prepared the necessary assistance and we are ready to bring him back to Santa Marta,” said Dr. Luigi Carbon, the Pope’s personal doctor, adding: “We hope that within a short time, he will be able to return to his normal activity.”
Although outside the public for weeks, the Pope shared a recorded message At the beginning of March, thanking people for their prayers for their recovery. The message – which highlighted the weak and laborious voice of Francis – was played on Place Saint -Pierre for the faithful gathered for a night recitation of the prayer of the rosary. The Vatican too published a photo of the pope to prayer.
During his stay in hospital, the church celebrated the 12th birthday of Francis’ papacy with a mass in his honor.
