Pope Francis
Pope Francis has jokingly declared that he is “still alive” after being discharged from Gemelli Hospital in Rome following a three-day stay. The 86-year-old pontiff was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday due to breathing difficulties, which were later diagnosed as bronchitis. The Vatican had previously stated that the Pope would be released on Saturday if his latest test results were satisfactory.
Upon leaving the hospital, Pope Francis addressed the media with a smile and a wave, saying “I wasn’t frightened, I’m still alive.” He then proceeded to greet a crowd of well-wishers before heading back to the Vatican. The Pope’s hospitalization came just ahead of the busiest week of the Christian calendar, known as Holy Week. This week is filled with a number of physically demanding events and services to celebrate Easter.
Pope Francis has suffered from various health issues throughout his life, including having part of one of his lungs removed at age 21. Despite this, the Argentine pontiff recently celebrated 10 years as head of the Catholic Church and is still going strong.