Pope Francis returns to Vatican after five weeks in hospital

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis returned to the Vatican on March 23 after surviving a five-week battle in hospital against double pneumonia that became the most serious health crisis of his 12-year papacy.

The 88-year-old Pope, who also made his first public appearance since Feb 14 before being discharged from Rome’s Gemelli hospital, left the facility shortly after noon.

A car carrying the pontiff was accompanied by police vehicles through Rome, making a short detour at the Basilica of St Mary Major, where Pope Francis has a special devotion and visits frequently.

Though the Pope has returned from hospital, his doctors have said it would still take “a lot of time” for his ageing body to heal fully.

They have prescribed a further two months of rest at the Vatican and told the Pope to avoid large or stressful meetings, leaving unclear how much activity he will undertake in the coming months.

Just before leaving the hospital on March 23, he smiled and waved at a group of well-wishers gathered outside. He used a wheelchair, as he has done for several years.

The Pope, whose face looked swollen, appeared only for a few moments.

He spoke briefly with a feeble voice to thank one of the members of the crowd below, who had brought yellow flowers.

Ms Carmela Vittoria Mancuso, who visited the hospital each day during the Pope’s treatment and brought the flowers for him, told Reuters afterwards that her heart “was bursting” when the Pope noticed her.

Pope Francis had only been seen by the public once before during his hospital stay, in a photo the Vatican released last week, showing the pontiff at prayer in a hospital chapel.

The Pope, who has been receiving oxygen to help him breathe throughout his hospital stay, was breathing on his own during the public appearance. But he was seen using a small hose under his nose for oxygen while travelling in his car.

In the moments before the pontiff’s appearance on March 23, the crowd of hundreds of well-wishers called out for him, chanting “Francis, Francis, Francis”.

Gratitude for doctors’ ‘tireless care’

Pope Francis, who has been leader of the Catholic Church since 2013, was first admitted to hospital for a bout of bronchitis that developed into double pneumonia, caused by what his doctors called a “complex” infection involving several microorganisms.

During his 38 days in hospital, the pontiff suffered four acute episodes of what the Vatican called “respiratory crises”, which involved serious coughing fits caused by constrictions in his airways, akin to asthma attacks.

Two of the crises were critical, putting Pope Francis “in danger of his life”, the head of his medical team, Dr Sergio Alfieri, told a press conference on March 22.

While Pope Francis no longer has pneumonia, he is also not completely healed, the doctor said.

Dr Alfieri said it would also take time for him to regain full use of his voice after battling a respiratory infection for so long.

On March 23, the Vatican released a brief text that it said was prepared by Pope Francis, in which he thanked his doctors for their “tireless care”.

Many Catholics around the world had been praying for the Pope’s recovery. Pilgrims at the Vatican on March 23 expressed relief at his leaving hospital.

“This discharge cheers us all up and gives us joy and hope,” said Ms Grazia Mara, an Italian. “We wish him a safe return home and a speedy recovery.”

The Pope had continued leading the Church from hospital.

He was making usual appointments of Catholic bishops around the world and also launched a new three-year reform process for the global institution.

But a period of two months’ rest for Pope Francis could lead to significant changes to the Vatican’s calendar of coming events.

The Pope had been set to meet with Britain’s King Charles on April 8 and to lead the Vatican’s annual Easter celebrations on April 20.

The Vatican has not said whether he will be able to keep those appointments. REUTERS