Pope Francis’ condition continues to be stable and registers gradual improvements in breathing, voice and movement, the director of the Holy See press office, Matteo Bruni, told journalists at a briefing in the Vatican before midday on Tuesday, April 8, the 17th day of the pope’s “at least two-month” convalescence period.
Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the head of the medical team that cared for Francis at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, said he does not exclude that the pope “will give us other surprises” as he did on Sunday when he appeared in St. Peter’s Square.
Francis receives high-level oxygen through the nasal tubes at night when he needs it, and reduced oxygen by day whenever he requires it, Mr. Bruni said. The remaining infection in his lungs is under control and in regression.
Now back home in suite number 201 on the second floor of Santa Marta, the Vatican guesthouse where he lives, the 88-year-old pope continues with the pharmacological, respiratory and physical therapies prescribed by his doctors when they discharged him from Gemelli Hospital on March 23. These therapies are producing visible improvements in the pope’s condition, as we saw on Sunday and as his regular blood tests confirm. Two nurses care for him around the clock.
Mr. Bruno said the pope continues to be “in good humor.” He undergoes his triple therapies daily but also prays, rests and concelebrates Mass every morning with his private secretaries.
Pope Francis also does work related to the governance of the Catholic Church, assisted by his three private secretaries. He reads documents that he receives from the different Vatican offices, gives his approval on some issues as required and continues to nominate bishops for dioceses worldwide. Today, for example, the Vatican announced several appointments to dioceses in different parts of the world, including two in the United States: William Shawn McKnight as archbishop of Kansas City and Bruce Alan Lewandowski, C.Ss.R, as bishop of Providence.
And, perhaps in a sign that the situation is slowly returning to normal, Pope Francis yesterday received a visit from Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the secretary of state, who he would normally receive on Mondays. However, no other visitors to the pope were reported.
The pope’s doctors decided to discharge him from the hospital after treating him for 38 days, during which they succeeded in eliminating the main infection in his lungs caused by pneumonia and helped him to overcome two life-threatening breathing crises on Feb. 22 and Feb. 28.
At the same time, as they discharged him from the hospital, they prescribed that he observe a period of “at least two months of rest and convalescence,” without meeting large crowds or children who can be carriers of infection.
It came as a surprise to everyone, therefore, when he returned in a wheelchair to St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, April 6, at the end of the Mass for the Jubilee of the Sick and Health Care Workers, attended by 20,000 pilgrims from many countries. Reflecting his fragility, he wore nasal tubes, connected to a canister of oxygen attached to his wheelchair. But the smile on his face showed he was happy to be back among the people. He also surprised many by shaking hands with several people during his 10-minute visit.
It has become clear, however, that Pope Francis consulted his doctors before coming to the square last Sunday. Dr. Segio Alfieri was present in St. Peter’s Square when Francis made his appearance.
Afterward, interviewed by the Italian state television’s TG1 about the pope’s appearance, Dr. Alfieri said: “He decides. He is the pope. If it were up to him, he would have come out a week ago!”
“Today he gave the best demonstration to everyone [of his recovery],” the doctor added. “He presented himself [to the people]. He made this surprise visit to show that he has returned home not only to Santa Marta but also to his people.”
Dr. Alfieri noted that Pope Francis “does not hide his fragility and shows that sometimes he needs the nasal tubes for low doses of oxygen for a longer period.”
Asked about people shaking hands with the pope, Dr. Alfieri said: “He is no longer a sick person. When he was in his hospital his immune system was compromised, he was immunosuppressed, and there were problems. Now his immune system is no longer compromised. He is no longer sick. He is convalescing. He has just done two weeks [of convalescence]. We hope he will respect the other six [weeks].”
He explained that “the worst phase of the pneumonia has already been overcome, but the therapy we have prescribed at Gemelli continues.”
When asked if we could expect other such surprises in the coming days, Dr. Alfieri responded: “I do not rule out that the Holy Father will give us other surprises. We know him. Now that he has come out, when the conditions are right, you will see that he will slowly resume [his normal life]. Of course, there will be a push and pull [tug of war] between him, who will want to be increasingly among the people, and us doctors, who do not want to keep him from the people but we want to make him observe his convalescence.”
Mr. Bruni confirmed that no decision has yet been made regarding the pope’s participation in the Holy Week ceremonies, as it remains to be seen how his convalescence proceeds.
He will give the next briefing about the pope’s condition on Friday, April 11.
