Vatican Secretary of State Parolin: The Pope will return to governance, even if not as before
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin stated that Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of Catholics and Head of State of the Vatican, who has been discharged from the hospital and is in a recovery period, will return to governance, even if not in the same way as before.
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Parolin made statements to journalists regarding the condition of the Pope, who was admitted to Gemelli Hospital in Rome on February 14 due to severe bronchitis, treated for 38 days after being diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia, and discharged on March 23.
Cardinal Parolin said, "I am constantly receiving messages that prayers are being said for the Pope, 'for his full recovery and return to the governance of the Church.' Perhaps not as before, we will have to find different ways, but I think he will be able to do it."
Touching upon issues on the international agenda, Cardinal Parolin also expressed his hope that truly positive results could be achieved regarding a ceasefire in Ukraine.
While Cardinal Parolin did not hide his disappointment over the collapse of the temporary ceasefire in Gaza, he called on both Israel and Hamas to be moderate and to resolve the issue without resorting to weapons.
ABOUT THE PERIOD THE POPE WAS UNDER TREATMENT
Pope Francis had stated during two public events on February 9 and 12 that he had bronchitis and difficulty breathing, and he was unable to speak, asking his aides to read his speeches.
It was reported that the Pope, who was hospitalized on February 14, had a polymicrobial infection in his respiratory tract.
The Vatican announced on February 18 that the Pope had developed bilateral pneumonia and that his clinical condition presented a complex picture.
The Vatican also noted on February 28 that the Pope, who suffered a bronchospasm crisis, underwent bronchoaspiration, was placed on mechanical ventilation, and responded positively to the treatment.
The spiritual leader of Catholics suffered acute respiratory failure twice on March 3, and non-invasive mechanical ventilation was restarted.
It was reported that the Pope, who began to show signs of slight improvement starting March 4, had his latest chest X-ray taken on March 12, which radiologically confirmed the improvements recorded in previous days. Pope Francis was discharged on March 23 after greeting the public from the hospital balcony.
Prof. Sergio Alfieri stated in an interview with the newspaper Corriere della Sera on March 25 that the Pope had narrowly escaped death twice during his time in the hospital.