Pope Francis leaves the hospital after three nights admitted for bronchitis: “I am still alive”

Pope Francis, 86, was discharged on Saturday morning, after spending three days in a Roman hospital for bronchitis. Before leaving the Gemelli hospital in Rome to go to the residence of Santa Marta, in the Vatican, where he lives with other priests, the pontiff greeted the medical staff and those in charge of the medical center and thanked them for his work. At the door, he also greeted the journalists who had been on duty for days with a smile and calm: “I’m still alive, I haven’t been afraid,” Jorge Mario Bergoglio revealed.

The Pope intends to immediately resume his schedule, especially busy these days of Holy Week, and although he has not officially confirmed it, it seems that tomorrow he will participate in the celebration of Palm Sunday, which is held in Saint Peter’s Square, in the exterior of the basilica and with the presence of a large number of faithful.

The Vatican has been sending these days concise medical reports to report on the state of health of the pontiff, who suffers from bronchitis of infectious origin and has received antibiotic treatment in the hospital.

On the last day of admission, according to the Holy See Press Office, Francis had pizza for dinner with the medical team, read some newspapers, worked and also visited other patients at the center, such as a group of children with cancer. “The most beautiful thing of these days has been the visit to the children,” the pontiff acknowledged as he left. Before returning to the vehicle, the Pope hugged and greeted a couple who lost his daughter last night.

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