The Vatican has announced that Pope Francis plans to appear this Sunday, March 17th, marking his first public appearance in five weeks since being hospitalized for bilateral pneumonia. He will greet and bless the public from the window of his room at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome.
Read Also...:
Trump contends that Biden's pardons have no force because they were signed with an autopen
03-24, 2025
Homeland Security revokes temporary status for 532,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans
03-24, 2025
Large fire breaks out in Disney's EPCOT theme park in Florida
03-24, 2025
UK government orders probe into Heathrow shutdown that sparked concern over energy resilience
03-24, 2025Pope Francis, 88, was hospitalized on February 14th due to a severe respiratory infection, with his condition requiring continuous adjustments to his treatment plan. Prior to this, the Pope had only made one public appearance during his hospitalization, namely a photo released by the Vatican last week showing the Pope praying in the hospital chapel.
The Vatican stated, "Pope Francis wishes to come to the hospital window around noon (local time) on Sunday to greet and bless everyone." The Pope usually delivers his weekly prayer in St. Peter's Square every Sunday at noon, but has been unable to do so since being hospitalized on February 9th.
The Vatican indicated that the Pope is not expected to lead the prayer this Sunday, suggesting that he is still recovering from pneumonia, but he will come to the window to offer greetings. The head of his medical team stated that the Pope still needs two months of rest in the Vatican, and that his body needs "a long time" to fully recover. The medical team advised the Pope to rest for two months and suggested that he not attend large group meetings or activities that require special effort. "The recommendation of at least two months of convalescence is very important," said Sergio Alfieri, head of the Pope's medical team, at a press conference.
Pope Francis is prone to lung infections because he suffered from pleurisy as a young man and had part of his lung removed. This hospitalization is the most serious health crisis of his 12-year papacy and the longest time he has been out of the public eye since being elected Pope in 2013. Last Friday, the Vatican said that the Pope has been reducing his use of high-flow oxygen to help him breathe.
A senior cardinal said last Friday that the Pope may need some time to "relearn to speak" after using oxygen therapy. Cardinal Victor Fernandez, the Vatican's chief doctrinal official, said, "The Pope is in very good condition, but high-flow oxygen dries everything out. He needs to relearn how to speak, but his overall physical condition is the same as before." Dr. Alfieri confirmed, "It will take some time for his voice to return to its previous state."
The Vatican has not given a timetable for the Pope's discharge, but the planned meeting with King Charles of England on April 8 raises the possibility that the Pope may return to his Vatican residence by then.
