Catholic Church
Pope Francis released from hospital: “I’m still alive”
Pope Francis leaves Agostino Gemelli University Hospital. Here he was treated for bronchitis. photo
© Domenico Stinellis/AP
Pope Francis is better. After almost three days of treatment, the pontiff left the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital. He is expected in St. Peter’s Square on Palm Sunday.
Pope Francis has been released from the hospital after almost three days of treatment for bronchitis. The head of the Catholic Church drove back to the Vatican from the Gemelli Polyclinic on Saturday. The pontiff’s motorcade stopped in front of the hospital entrance, the 86-year-old got out of his car and chatted briefly with the journalists. “I’m still alive,” he joked, announcing that he would be at the Mass on Palm Sunday in St. Peter’s Square. Recently there had been concerns in the Vatican that the Pope could miss the Holy Week services and then those at Easter.