Adnkronos Città del Vaticano, 23 mar. – (Adnkronos) – Oggi, domenica 23 marzo, Papa Francesco lascerà il Gemelli dopo oltre un mese di ricovero. Dopo l'Angelus che non pronuncerà ma che sarà diffuso solo in forma scritta, Bergoglio, salvo cambiamenti dell'ultimo momento, si affaccerà dalla sua stanza d'ospedale per un saluto e una benedizione al termine della lunga degenza.
Lo desidera tanto. Quindi prenderà la strada di casa. Lo attende un periodo di riposo e di convalescenza "di due mesi", come hanno spiegato i medici del Gemelli, in un briefing con la stampa nel quale sono state annunciate al mondo le dimissioni dall'ospedale.
"The Pope has never been intubated, he has always remained alert, oriented and present. He will be discharged today in stable clinical conditions for at least two weeks. Obviously, the entire medical team has prescribed him to partially continue the pharmacological therapies that he will have to take orally for a long time and the recommendation of a period of rest in convalescence for two months is very important" explained Sergio Alfieri, a doctor at Gemelli, in the briefing at the Policlinico.
"This is a protected discharge," Luigi Carbone, the Pope's medical representative in the Vatican, observed, "which requires convalescence. We have assessed the needs and, like 88-year-old patients discharged after pneumonia, we have assessed the Pope's needs, which are the need for oxygen as long as he needs it, health care that the health and hygiene department can offer at Santa Marta, and so we have prepared to welcome him home."
The Pope had been itching to go home for days, then he listened to the doctors. Then, the doctors' long-awaited decision arrived. Now the doctors are advising him on a two-month recovery period during which he will not have to make great efforts or meet groups of people. He will continue his motor and respiratory physiotherapy. "If the Holy Father can be discharged with the prescriptions" of two months of rest during recovery, Alfieri explained, "it is because the most serious infections have resolved themselves. There are some bacteria that have been defeated, some viruses, whose viral load has reduced, perhaps they are viruses that we also have. Some fungi have reduced and will take a long time to be defeated. He no longer has bilateral pneumonia, he has completely recovered from all polymicrobial species. It will take time."
No one is taking a stance on how his life will change and what will happen in this new phase. Easter is upon us. Will the Pope be able to attend the Rites, will he travel again? "We will see based on the improvements", explained Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni.