Pope's health continues to improve

Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, head of the Vatican's doctrinal office, said on March 21 that Pope Francis is recovering in hospital, but he will have to "relearn how to speak" after a long period of high-flow oxygen.

Cardinal Fernandez also dismissed speculation that Pope Francis would choose to retire for health reasons, insisting the church leader is making a comeback.

A man prays for Pope Francis

In a statement on March 21, the Vatican said Pope Francis' condition remained stable with "slight improvements in his breathing and mobility." He has not needed a ventilator at night since March 17, but is now receiving oxygen most of the time through a small tube placed under his nose.

The Vatican has yet to make an official statement on when the Pope will be discharged from the hospital, according to Reuters. Cardinal Fernandez is not sure whether the Pope can return home before Easter, April 20. "The Pope can return, but the doctors want to be 100% sure, because he will spend all his limited time dedicating himself to the people, not to himself," Cardinal Fernandez said.

This hospitalization is the fourth and longest since Pope Francis took office in 2013.

The 88-year-old Pope has been hospitalized for the past five weeks with pneumonia in both lungs. During that time, the Vatican released only a short recording of the Pope’s speech on March 6, which showed his voice was broken and breathless.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/suc-khoe-giao-hoang-tiep-tuc-phuc-hoi-185250322215730853.htm