Italian
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The Pope will be discharged tomorrow, Sunday, March 23. He had been hospitalized at the “Agostino Gemelli” Polyclinic on February 14. The doctors who are treating the Pope announced this during a press conference tonight. The decision was made following the continuous improvements noted over the past two weeks. He will be discharged under protection and his recovery at Casa Santa Marta will last two months. Professor Sergio Alfieri, head of the Gemelli team that treated the Pope, specified that he “will have to wait before resuming normal activities. The most significant infections have been defeated.” After the damage caused by pneumonia, he will have to recover his voice. Luigi Carbone, the Pope’s attending physician, pointed out that “during the recovery period, he will not be able to engage in meetings with people. It will be a time dedicated to the recovery phase, with continued respiratory and motor physiotherapy, to speed up improvements and fully resume his activities.”
“The news of the Pope’s discharge from the A. Gemelli Polyclinic fills us with joy. Over these weeks, we have accompanied him with prayer and will continue to support him, as we have done over the twelve years of his Pontificate,” said Cardinal Matteo Zuppi upon hearing the news of the Pope’s discharge. “During this long hospitalization, he has shown us ‘the blessing’ hidden in frailty, because in these moments we learn even more to trust in the Lord” (Angelus, March 2). From his hospital bed, he reminded us of how necessary the “miracle of tenderness” is, which accompanies those in trial, bringing a little light into the night of pain” (Angelus, March 9). Now, together with him, we give “praise to the Lord, who never abandons us and who, in moments of pain, places beside us people who reflect a ray of his love” (Angelus, March 16), assuring him of the closeness and prayer of our communities.” Concluded the president of the Italian Episcopal Conference.
