In good spirits, Pope Francis laughed with supporters on Saturday as he returned to the Vatican to get ready for the most significant week in Christian history following a three-night hospital stint for bronchitis.
The 86-year-old pontiff got out of the car and grinned and made jokes with the crowd.
“I am still alive!” he joked with a huge smile when someone asked him how he was feeling.
The most significant period in the Christian calendar, Holy Week and Easter, will now be prepared for by Francis.
During a general audience in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday, the pope felt unwell. Nevertheless, after receiving antibiotics, his condition became better.
The pope visited the hospital’s children’s cancer unit on Friday, distributing Easter eggs and christening a kid who was just a few weeks old.
On Saturday, as he was leaving, he extended his hand to bless those who were ill and stopped to hug and pray with grieving parents whose young daughter had just passed away.
Francis’ hospitalization was his second since 2021, when he underwent colon surgery, also at Gemelli.
His deteriorating health over the past year has caused widespread worry, including rumors that he would decide to resign rather than hold the position for the rest of his life.
When asked on Saturday if his most recent illness had terrified him, he shook his head and replied, “No.”
He is set to dive back into work at the Vatican, with a meeting with a top cardinal on the agenda for later Saturday.
