VATICAN CITY — A weak and frail Pope Francis returned residence to the Vatican from the hospital on Sunday after surviving a five-week, life-threatening bout of pneumonia, making a shock cease at his favourite basilica on the best way residence earlier than starting two months of prescribed relaxation and restoration.
The motorcade carrying the 88-year-old pope entered the Perugino gate into Vatican Metropolis, and Francis was seen within the entrance passenger seat carrying nasal tubes to offer him supplemental oxygen.
In the course of the journey residence from Gemelli hospital, Francis took a slight detour to carry him to the St. Mary Main basilica, the place his favourite icon of the Madonna is positioned and the place he at all times goes to wish after a international go to. Francis did not get out of the automotive, however handed a bouquet of flowers to the cardinal to put in entrance of the Salus populi Romani icon, a Byzantine-style portray on wooden that’s revered by Romans.
Earlier than leaving the hospital, Francis gave a thumbs up and acknowledged the group after he was wheeled out onto the balcony overlooking the primary entry. Lots of of individuals had gathered on a superb Sunday morning to say goodbye.
“I see this lady with the yellow flowers. Brava!” a drained and bloated-looking Francis stated. He gave a weak signal of the cross earlier than being wheeled again inside.
Pope Francis thumbs up showing at a window of the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome, March 23, 2025, the place he was handled for bronchitis and bilateral pneumonia since Feb. 14.
AP Photograph/Domenico Stinellis
Chants of “Viva il papa!” and “Papa Francesco” erupted from the group, which included sufferers who had been wheeled exterior simply to catch his temporary look.
Docs, who introduced his deliberate launch at a Saturday night information convention, stated he wants two months of relaxation and convalescence, throughout which he ought to chorus from assembly with massive teams of individuals or exerting himself. However they stated finally he ought to have the ability to resume all his regular actions.
His return residence, after the longest hospitalization of his 12-year papacy and the second-longest in current papal historical past, introduced tangible aid to the Vatican and Catholic trustworthy who’ve been anxiously following 38 days of medical ups and downs and questioning if Francis would make it.
“At this time I really feel an incredible pleasure,” stated Dr. Rossella Russomando, a physician from Salerno who did not deal with Francis however was at Gemelli on Sunday. “It’s the demonstration that each one our prayers, all of the rosary prayers from all around the world, introduced this grace.”
Pope is joyful to go residence
On the Vatican Sunday, pilgrims flocked as they’ve all 12 months to St. Peter’s Basilica to take part within the 2025 Holy 12 months. They swarmed St. Peter’s Sq. and progressed via the Holy Door in teams, whereas massive TV screens within the sq. have been turned on to broadcast Francis’ hospital greeting reside.
No particular preparations have been made on the Domus Santa Marta, the Vatican lodge subsequent to the basilica the place Francis lives in a two-room suite on the second flooring. Francis can have entry to supplemental oxygen and 24-hour medical care as wanted, although his private doctor, Dr. Luigi Carbone, stated he hoped Francis would progressively want much less and fewer help respiration as his lungs recuperate.
Whereas the pneumonia an infection has been efficiently handled, Francis will proceed to take oral treatment for fairly a while to deal with the fungal an infection in his lungs and proceed his respiratory and bodily physiotherapy.
“For 3 or 4 days he is been asking when he can go residence, so he is very joyful,” Carbone stated.
Two life-threatening crises
The Argentine pope, who has persistent lung illness and had a part of one lung eliminated as a younger man, was admitted to Gemelli on Feb. 14 after a bout of bronchitis worsened.
Docs first recognized a fancy bacterial, viral and fungal respiratory tract an infection and shortly thereafter, pneumonia in each lungs. Blood exams confirmed indicators of anemia, low blood platelets and the onset of kidney failure, all of which later resolved after two blood transfusions.
Essentially the most severe setbacks started on Feb. 28, when Francis skilled an acute coughing match and inhaled vomit, requiring the usage of a noninvasive mechanical air flow masks to assist him breathe. He suffered two extra respiratory crises just a few days later, which required docs to manually aspirate “copious” quantities of mucus from his lungs, at which level he started sleeping with the air flow masks at night time to assist his lungs clear the buildup of fluids.
He was by no means intubated and at no level misplaced consciousness. Docs reported he at all times remained alert and cooperative, although they are saying he has most likely misplaced a little bit of weight given a pure lack of urge for food.
“Sadly sure, there was a second when many have been saying that he won’t make it. And it was painful for us,” stated Mario Balsamo, the proprietor of espresso store in entrance of Gemelli. “As a substitute, at the moment with the discharge, we’re very joyful that he’s effectively and we hope he’ll recuperate quickly and can recuperate his energy.”
‘I am nonetheless alive!’
Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the medical and surgical chief at Gemelli who coordinated Francis’ medical group, careworn that not all sufferers who develop such a extreme case of double pneumonia survive, a lot much less are launched from the hospital. He stated Francis’ life was in danger twice, through the two acute respiratory crises, and that the pope on the time understandably misplaced his typical good humorousness.
“However one morning we went to hearken to his lungs and we requested him how he was doing. When he replied, ‘I am nonetheless alive,’ we knew he was OK and had gotten his good humor again,” he stated.
Alfieri confirmed that Francis was nonetheless having hassle talking because of the harm to his lungs and respiratory muscle tissue. However he stated such issues have been regular, particularly in older sufferers, and predicted his voice would finally return to regular.
No confirmed appointments for now
The Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni, declined to substantiate any upcoming occasions, together with a scheduled viewers on April 8 with King Charles III or Francis’ participation in Easter companies on the finish of the month. However Carbone stated he hoped Francis may be effectively sufficient to journey to Turkey on the finish of Could to take part in an essential ecumenical anniversary.
Francis can be returning to the Vatican within the throes of a Holy 12 months, the once-every-quarter-century celebration scheduled to attract greater than 30 million pilgrims to Rome this 12 months. The pope has already missed a number of Jubilee audiences and can presumably miss a number of extra, however Vatican officers say his absence hasn’t considerably impacted the numbers of anticipated pilgrims arriving.
Solely St. John Paul II recorded an extended hospitalization in 1981, when he spent 55 days at Gemelli for minor surgical procedure and remedy of an an infection.
___
Related Press writers Giada Zampano in Rome and Colleen Barry in Soave, Italy contributed to this report.
___
Related Press faith protection receives assist via the AP’s collaboration with The Dialog US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely accountable for this content material.
Copyright © 2025 by The Related Press. All Rights Reserved.
