Pope Francis Discharged After Five Weeks
of Hospitalization for Pneumonia
Pope Francis, who had been hospitalized with pneumonia, was discharged on the 23rd (local time) after a little over five weeks.
The Pope came out to the 10th-floor balcony of Rome's Gemelli Hospital in a wheelchair, waved his hand, and said, "Thank you to everyone."
The medical staff decided on the discharge after assessing the Pope's recovery the day before. It was stipulated that he would need at least two months of rest and rehabilitation.
This was the first time since his hospitalization that the Pope appeared directly in public, rather than through hospital visits or photo releases.
After admission, chest computed tomography (CT) scans confirmed pneumonia in both of the Pope's lungs, and his condition continued to worsen. He faced several critical moments, including four episodes of respiratory distress, but recently his condition has noticeably improved.
Dr. Luigi Carbone, Deputy Director of the Vatican Medical Services, said that to treat the pneumonia, the Pope will need to continue taking oral medications and undergo high-flow oxygen therapy even after discharge.
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