Elected as sovereign pontiff on March 13, 2013, Pope Francis marks ten years at the helm of the Catholic Church this year. The 88-year-old pontiff returned to the Vatican on Sunday, following a weeks-long hospitalization at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he was treated for double pneumonia.
First public appearance
His homecoming follows his first public appearance in a wheelchair on February 14, which remained his only official outing since the start of his hospitalization. According to a Holy See statement, doctors announced his discharge during a press conference on Saturday evening, while emphasizing the need for “at least two months” of rest and convalescence.
Though the pneumonia has been “successfully treated,” the Pope will continue oral medication to address a lingering fungal infection in his lungs. Respiratory and physical rehabilitation will also support his recovery.
Return to the Vatican
The announcement underscores the health challenges faced by the pontiff, whose decade-long reign has been defined by ambitious reforms and global engagement. Despite medical precautions, the Vatican affirmed that Francis will continue overseeing essential Church matters while adjusting his schedule to accommodate his health.
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