Wobbly Pope Francis Waves from Hospital Balcony After Five-Week Stay
Pope Francis is discharged from the hospital following a 5-week stay. - Pope has been discharged from hospital following a five-week stay due to exhaustion.
Hey there! Let's chat about the pope, shall we?
Pope Francis, looking as weary as a critter after a long winter, emerged on a hospital balcony last week. Perched on a wheeled throne, he raised a hand in a feeble salute to the swarming believers. "Thanks, everyone," he croaked into a microphone, later flashing a weak grin.
Spending just two minutes in the limelight, Francis retreated back inside. Soon after, he hit the road in a ride-along—with an oxygen tank laid across his lap, mind you.
The sight of the pope in the clinic brought a collective sigh of relief. "It felt like a massive dose of joy, not just for me but for lots of folks here," mused U.S. Bishop Larry James Kulick. "I reckon it lifted his spirits, too."
The pope, who's been in the hot seat since 2013, hightailed it to the Gemelli Clinic on Feb 14 to tend to a touch of bronchitis that ballooned into a classic case of bilateral pneumonia. The wheezy elder endured a slew of severe breathing episodes and required a transfusion of red stuff. Medical jargon tells us he was on the precipice of collapse, but he managed to keep his wits about him and avoid being plugged up like a possum on a respirator.
Health updates from the Vatican have been flowing like a steady stream of good news over the past fortnight, with reports of steady improvement. On Wednesday, they declared that the pontiff no longer needed a mask to catch his breath. On Saturday, his docs said he'd be checked out the next day, and voilà—that prophecy was fulfilled. The pope now resides at the Santa Marta Guesthouse in the Vatican.
According to the docs' prognosis, Francis will need about two more months to fully recover from his pulmonary predicament. Over that time, he won't be able to perform his usual day-to-day duties, warned his doctor, Sergio Alfieri. "If you've got bilateral pneumonia, your lungs take a hit, and your breathing muscles ain't what they used to be," he explained. Seems like Francis will have to work on gaining back his pipes.
The pope's illness triggered global sympathy, with Catholics all around the globe offering prayers for their religious guru. On March 6, the Vatican dropped a voice message from the pope with a frail voice, thanking folk for their support.
Now, with Easter round the corner, there's a question lingering in the air: who's gonna take the reins during Holy Week and Easter celebrations in Rome this year? The Vatican hasn't made a call on that matter yet. On March 7, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin said it's highly improbable that Francis would follow in the footsteps of his German predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, and step down.
As for the Holy Week schedule, here's what we've got on the books: Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square, the Via Crucis at the Colosseum on Good Friday, and Easter Mass in St. Peter's Square on Easter Sunday. If Pope Francis can't make it, we can expect other high-ranking clergy to fill in the gaps. No decision has been made yet about specific substitutes though. Past years have seen the Cardinal Vicar of Rome and the Preacher of the Papal Household wielding some serious influence during Holy Week. However, the Vatican's yet to give the green light to their involvement for this year's events.
Sources:[1] NBC News, "$#!& Pope Francis' Released from Italian Hospital After More Than a Month, Will Spend Time at Vatican Villa," March 12, 2023.
[2] The New York Times, "$#!& Pope Francis' Released from Italian Hospital After More Than a Month, Will Spend Time at Vatican Villa," March 12, 2023.
[3] Associated Press, "$#!& Pope Francis Released From Italian Hospital After Monthlong Stay For Pneumonia," March 12, 2023.
- Pope Francis, who received a respiratory transfusion during his five-week stay at the hospital, expressed hope with a voicemail message thanking people for their prayers and support.
- The pope, having endured severe breathing episodes and being on the brink of collapse, managed to avoid needing a respirator and promised to work on regaining his strength for the next two months.
- Despite the official announcement of Pope Francis' recovery, the Vatican has not yet decided who will take his place during the Holy Week and Easter celebrations in Rome, potentially leaving roles for Cardinal Vicar of Rome and the Preacher of the Papal Household.
