Topline
After being admitted to the hospital earlier this week for bronchitis, Pope Francis is expected to be discharged Saturday, the Vatican said in a statement, adding Francis plans to be in St. Peter’s Square for Palm Sunday mass this weekend.
Pope Francis arrives for his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican, … [+]
Key Facts
Francis, 86, is continuing to receive intravenous antibiotics to treat his bronchitis at Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement.
Bruni described Francis’ recovery as “normal” and said he, along with doctors, nurses and Vatican security personnel, had a pizza dinner on Thursday.
While Francis is expected to return to the Vatican Saturday and be present for Palm Sunday Mass—the first day of holy week when Catholics celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ—the Vatican did not specify whether Francis would give the homily.
Key Background
Francis was admitted to the hospital Wednesday after results showed he had a respiratory infection that required “some days of medical therapy,” Bruni said, according to the AP. While Bruni initially said Francis went to hospital for “previously scheduled check-ups,” he later said the Pope had been experiencing difficulty breathing in recent days. Francis has faced some medical issues in the past. He suffers from diverticulitis, a condition that can cause inflammation to the colon, and because of that in 2021 he had part of the organ removed. Francis also has some knee issues, appearing in public sometimes with a cane or in a wheelchair. Francis became pope in 2013 after Pope Benedict XVI stepped down.
Further Reading
Pope Francis Hospitalized In Rome (Forbes)
That Viral Image Of Pope Francis Wearing A White Puffer Coat Is Totally Fake (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/anafaguy/2023/03/31/pope-francis-leaving-hospital-in-time-for-palm-sunday-vatican-says/