Pope Francis Discharged From Hospital After Five Weeks
Pope Francis has been discharged after spending fives weeks in a Rome hospital for pneumonia.
According to the doctors, he will need at least two months of rest at the Vatican before resuming his normal duties.
The 88-year-old pontiff appeared at the window of the hospital on Sunday morning. shortly before his discharge. This was his first appearance since being admitted on 14 February.
One of his doctors, Dr. Sergio Alfieri, said the Pope faced two episodes where his life was in danger.
“Pope Francis was never intubated and always remained alert and oriented,” Alfieri said.
Although not fully recovered, the Pope’s condition has stabilised, and he no longer has pneumonia.
However, Dr. Alfieri revealed that his voice has been affected due to the illness, explaining that elderly patients with double pneumonia often experience temporary voice loss.
On Friday, Cardinal Victor Fernandez noted that high-flow oxygen treatment had dried out the Pope’s throat, requiring him to “relearn how to speak,” as reported by Reuters.
If his recovery continues to progress, doctors anticipate he will be able to gradually resume work.
The Vatican confirmed on Friday that his breathing and mobility had improved stating that he no longer required mechanical ventilation at night.
According to the Vatican, he was using only a small nasal tube for oxygen, and is relying less on high-flow oxygen during the day.
Pope Francis had been seen by the public only once since his hospitalization, in a Vatican-released photograph showing him praying in a hospital chapel.
Earlier this month, an audio message of the Pope speaking in Spanish was played in St. Peter’s Square, in which he thanked the faithful for their prayers, though his voice sounded breathless.
As the leader of the Roman Catholic Church for 12 years, Pope Francis has faced multiple health challenges. He had part of a lung removed at age 21, making him more prone to respiratory infections.
Pope Francis Discharged From Hospital After Five Weeks is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
