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See Pope Francis’ first public appearance since being admitted to hospital
00:39 – Source: CNN
See Pope Francis’ first public appearance since being admitted to hospital
00:39
CNN —
Pope Francis was released from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he has been battling double pneumonia for the past five weeks, on Sunday, returning to the Vatican where he will continue his recovery.
The pontiff left the hospital shortly after he made his first public appearance in more than five weeks, waving to people and giving a thumbs up from a balcony.
Though the pope looked frail and struggled to speak, he addressed the crowd outside the hospital, thanking them and acknowledging one woman in the crowd who was holding flowers. He also gave a blessing, though appeared to have some difficulty raising his arms.
Despite this, the pontiff seemed alert, shaking his head when an aide came over to him to ask something.
Francis, 88, was admitted to Gemelli Hospital on February 14, initially suffering from a severe respiratory infection. He was subsequently diagnosed with a polymicrobial infection, which evolved to pneumonia in both lungs.
His medical team said Saturday that his condition had now stabilized, allowing for him to be discharged to convalesce at his residence in the Vatican, Casa Santa Marta, for the next two months.
The pope had previously only been seen once during his lengthy hospital stay when the Vatican released a photograph of Francis praying at the hospital’s chapel.
Francis has not led the Angelus prayer for the past six Sundays, but has still offered a reflection every week.
“During this long period of hospitalization, I have had the opportunity to experience the patience of the Lord, which I also see reflected in the tireless care of doctors and health workers, as well as in the care and hopes of the relatives of the sick,” he said in his Angelus message, which was distributed to reporters in advance.
“This trusting patience, anchored in the love of God that does not fail, is truly necessary in our life, especially to face the most difficult and painful situations,” he continued.
While the 88-year-old pontiff is returning to his residence at Casa Santa Marta ‑ where he has lived since he was elected as pontiff in 2013 ‑ he will need to recuperate for at least two months to allow his body time to fully heal, his doctors said in a news conference at the hospital on Saturday evening.
Dr. Sergio Alfieri told reporters that during his 39-day hospitalization there were “two very critical episodes in which the Holy Father’s life was in danger.”
Alfieri, who is the head of the medical team that has been taking care of the pontiff, described the two-month period of convalescence as “very important.”
The pope will need to return to work gradually and has been advised against taking meetings with large groups of people for some time, Alfieri added.
During his hospitalization, the pope’s treatment required several weeks of non-invasive mechanical ventilation and oxygen.
The pontiff’s voice is improving but he needs more time to fully recover, Dr. Luigi Carbone, the Vice-Director of the Vatican’s healthcare service, said Saturday. He added that while the pope no longer has double pneumonia, he still needs to heal from the other infections he has been fighting.
Carbone told reporters that the pope has been in good spirits and had been asking to be discharged for the last few days. But he will need to continue the treatment and physiotherapy he has been doing in hospital after returning home, Carbone added.
This story has been updated with developments.
CNN’s Sharon Braithwaite and Olivia Kemp contributed to this report.