Pope Francis, now in the 13th day of the period of “at least two months of rest and convalescence” prescribed by his doctors when they discharged him from the Gemelli Hospital on March 23, continues to register “gradual improvements” in breathing and motor activity, as well as in his voice, thanks to the respiratory therapy.
The Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni, reported these ongoing improvements in a briefing for journalists around midday, April 4. He hinted that there could be a change in how the Sunday Angelus is conducted this weekend. Since Francis’ hospitalization on Feb. 14, the Vatican has issued a written message from him at midday every Sunday, but there is a possibility that next Sunday, April 6, he may appear again “in a different way”—perhaps by video—to give a blessing from Santa Marta, the Vatican guesthouse where he has lived since his election 12 years ago. Mr. Bruni said the media would be informed tomorrow if this is to happen.
Pope Francis “is in good humor,” Mr. Bruni said. He continues with the regular pharmacological, respiratory and physical therapies prescribed by his doctors, and with positive results as the regular blood tests show.
As regards the pope’s receiving oxygen, he said the situation is much the same as at the last briefing on Tuesday: He receives high-flow oxygen during the night when he needs it, and oxygen by day as required, always through nasal tubes. But there is a gradual reduction in this, he said, as they seek to return him to breathing autonomously.
Apart from praying, Mr. Bruni said the pope dedicates part of his time to breathing and motor therapies, and another part of his time to work related to the governing of the church. He receives dossiers and documents from the different offices of the Roman Curia and responds to those as required, and continues with the nomination of bishops.
Today, the Vatican released his message to participants in the National Pilgrimage for the Jubilee Year from Slovakia, a country he visited in Sept. 2021. In the message, signed on March 27, he told them, “I would have loved to be present among you to share this moment of faith and communion, but I am still convalescing and therefore I join you through prayer and with all my affection.”
Pope Francis also follows, by Vatican streaming, the weekly Lenten reflection given by Roberto Pasolini, O.F.M. Cap., the preacher of the papal household, in the Paul VI Audience Hall, Mr. Bruni said.
The Italian news agency ANSA reported that Father Pasolini began this morning’s reflection by saying: “A special greeting to the Holy Father, to whom we have dedicated all the meditations and exercises of this Lent, and in particular this one, which is entitled: ‘Knowing how to get up again.’” He added, “We hope that this strength with which Christ rose from death will also be infused into the Holy Father [so that he may] be able to get up again and take up a little the helm of the Church in this time of the Jubilee.”
On April 2, the 20th anniversary of the death of Saint John Paul II, the pope followed the Mass in his memory in St. Peter’s Basilica, celebrated by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the secretary of state. Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, 85, longtime private secretary to the Polish pope, who concelebrated the Mass, thanked all those present and said, as CNS reported, “Our hearts go out to the Holy Father Francis, who could not be present as he continues his convalescence, but we know that right now, he is spiritually united with us. We pray for his health, that the Lord will give him the strength he needs to lead the pilgrim church in this Jubilee Year, under the banner of hope in these difficult times for the church and also for the world.”
Significantly, in observance of his doctor’s advice, the 88-year-old pope is not receiving any outside visitors in this period of “protected convalescence,” not even heads of state or senior Vatican officials. But he is not alone, he is accompanied 24/7 by his two male nurses, and by day by his three priest private secretaries.
His doctors discharged him almost two weeks ago after treating him for 38 days for double pneumonia and helping him overcome two life-threatening breathing crises on Feb. 22 and 28. They made the decision to send him back to the Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican guesthouse where he has lived since his election as pope, after blood tests and X-rays confirmed that the infection of the lungs caused by the pneumonia was eliminated.
At the same time, they acknowledged that he still had other lesser infections, but said these would take months to overcome, and this recovery could be better done at home rather than keeping him longer in the hospital, where he risked getting other infections. Today, April 4, Mr. Bruni reported that the other infections are “under control” and blood tests have shown “slight improvements” here also.
Mr. Bruni said he will give the next update on the pope’s condition on Tuesday, April 8.
