VATICAN CITY, March 31 (Portal) – Pope Francis christened a baby and welcomed children at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Friday as he appeared to be recovering quickly from a bout of bronchitis that led to his hospitalization earlier this week.
Francis is expected to return home on Saturday pending the results of his final medical tests and attend a Palm Sunday service the following day to mark the start of Easter Week celebrations, the Vatican said.
The 86-year-old Pope was hospitalized two days ago after complaining of breathing difficulties. He was diagnosed with bronchitis and responded well to an IV of antibiotics, his medical team said.
To highlight the pope’s improved health, the Vatican released a video on Friday afternoon of the pope standing up and baptizing a baby lying in a hospital bed. In a separate photo, Francis was shown presenting an Easter egg to a young child.
The Vatican said he stayed in the children’s cancer ward for about 30 minutes before returning to his own room.
[1/5] Pope Francis baptizes a baby boy named Miguel Angel as he visits the children’s cancer ward at Gemelli Hospital, where he is hospitalized with a respiratory infection, in this screenshot from a video in Rome, Italy March 31, 2023. Vatican Media/Handout via Portal
The dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, said the cardinals would assist the pope and take care of altar duties during Easter celebrations next week.
Holy Week as it is known involves a busy schedule of rituals and ceremonies that can be physically demanding, including a nightly procession on Good Friday at the Colosseum in Rome.
The Pope has also been forced to follow some of the past Easter events from the sidelines due to persistent knee pain, with cardinals celebrating some of the Masses in his stead.
Francis, who marked the 10th anniversary of his pontificate earlier this month, has suffered from a string of ailments in recent years. He was last hospitalized in July 2021 when part of his colon was removed during surgery to treat a painful bowel condition called diverticulitis.
“If we experience them with faith, life’s trials and difficulties serve to purify our hearts, to make them more humble and therefore ever more open to God,” the Pope tweeted on Friday.
Writing by Crispian Balmer, Gavin Jones and Alvise Armellini. Edited by Alison Williams, Peter Graff and Frances Kerry
Our standards: The Thomson Portal Trust Principles.