Urgent: Pope Francis is discharged from the hospital and jokingly says “I’m still alive”
Pope Francis left Saturday Gemelli Hospital in Rome after receiving treatment for three days after suffering from bronchitis, and joked journalists and many believers who came to check on his health by saying, “I am still alive.”
The 86-year-old pope got out of his car to greet the crowd present and exchange a few words with them before heading to the Vatican to begin preparations for the week of Easter celebrations.
The pope’s hospitalization came ahead of the busiest week in the Christian calendar for Catholics celebrating Easter. As is well known, the Holy Week schedule is always crowded with physically demanding events.
The Vatican confirmed that the pope would lead a Palm Sunday mass in St. Peter’s Square, after two days of media rumours. This Mass marks the beginning of Holy Week, which precedes Easter celebrations, the most important event of the year for Catholics.
This came after Pope Francis showed marked improvement as he recovered from bronchitis, an unofficial Vatican source told i24NEWS on Friday that the great news will come out today, Saturday.
The Argentine pope, who celebrated 10 years as head of the Catholic Church earlier this month, has suffered from a number of health problems throughout his life, including the removal of part of his lungs at the age of 21.
