(ZENIT News / Rome, 24.03.2025).- After 37 days in hospital, the Pope is now back in the Vatican again, but facing a prescribed rest of at least two months. During this period Pope Francis must recover from vestiges of his illness. However, this isn’t the only challenge the Pontiff is facing. During a press conference last Saturday, March 22, journalists were able to ask some questions of general interest and receive answers, which we now share with ZENIT’s readers. These answers make it possible to know first-hand some of the more concrete aspects about the Pope’s immediate future, his mood, as well as some interesting facts, which were also revealed. All that you read below stems from official answers.
1 What will the Pope be able to do or not do? What has happened to the Pope’s voice?
The first question had to do with what the Pope’s life will be like on his return to the Vatican: what he will be able to do or not do, and if he will have to have therapy to recover his speech. The doctors answered that, as in every period of convalescence, he will have to continue with the therapies, including motor and respiratory therapy. Underscored also was that, during his hospitalization the Holy Father was also working and will continue to do so on his return to the Vatican.
However, the doctors have prescribed for him an appropriate period of recovery and convalescence so that “He will not be able to take up immediately his work activity with groups of people at meetings or with important appointments that he could eventually attend, once he has finished the prescribed convalescence and the expected clinical improvements are verified.”
Dr Alfieri, one of the doctors, specified that, in a medical experience like the one the Pope went through, when the muscles have been in difficulty, “one of the first things that happens is the loss of voice,” adding that both in young as well as in elderly patients, “but especially in the elderly, it takes time for the voice to be what it was before. It’s a normal part of convalescence.”
2 What are the doctors’ concerns and how long will the recovery take?
A second question was about the fears and concerns of the doctors in regard to the new stage of the Pope’s health, and what time will it take for the Pope to recover his voice. There is “no concern,” said one of the two doctors. And the other noted that once the stability that the Pope has experienced for two weeks has been established, “further progress must be made at home. Even though it may seem strange to day it, the worst place to convalesce is in the hospital, since that’s where the most infections are recorded.”
3 Does the Pope have diabetes?
A third question revolved around whether there is a diabetic complication for the Pope. The answer was clear: the Pope doesn’t have diabetes, but, “when one has such a serious infection, there are many elements that are unbalanced, so that in the past a diabetologist intervened.”
4 Was the discharge the Pope’s decision, the doctors’ or both?
The fourth question was whether it was the Pope who wished to be discharged, or the doctors’ decision, or all were in accord. This question was followed immediately with another by the same person: when the two months of convalescence are up, will the Pope be able to take up his ordinary life again? The answer was that the discharge was decided by the doctors, although the Pope wanted to leave some days ago. In regard to the time of recovery, there was no concrete answer.
5 Does the Pope still have an infection? Does the Vatican have all that is necessary in case of an emergency?
The fifth question was if the Pope still had an infection in his lungs, and if a place has been adapted in Santa Marta for the next stage in Pope Francis’ life and possible requirements in face of an emergency situation. The doctors answered that the most serious infections have been resolved, but some microbial presence requires additional treatment over time. He doesn’t have pneumonia anymore, but he does have the presence of some bacteria. Regarding the Pope’s needs in Santa Marta, it was said that Vatican City’s Health Service has everything necessary to handle an emergency.
The Vatican spokesman intervened at this point to confirm that the Pope would appear at the window of his room in the Gemelli Hospital, before returning to the Vatican, at midday on Sunday, March 23, as in fact happened.
6 Will the Pope be present in the Holy Week services, Easter and Carlo Acutis’ Canonization?
The sixth question was about the Pope’s presence in the Holy Week liturgical services, Easter and Carlo Acutis’ Canonization. The answer was that the decisions would depend on his improvement.
7 How did the Pope receive the news of his discharge and will he be able to receive visitors?
The seventh question revolved around the Pope’s reaction to the news of his discharge and if he will be able to receive visitors. One of the doctors was clear about this: following his discharge, he has been prescribed a two-month period of rest and convalescence and advised against meeting with groups, against strenuous exertion, and urged people — who have been scheduled to see him for a long time and who have a small child with a slight case of influenza — to respect this situation.
The second doctor stressed that it was a recovery phase, so that the Pope would not be able to carry out the same activities as he did before. In regard to how he received the news of his discharge, they said: “He’s very happy. He’d been asking when he could go home for three or four days, so he’s happy.”
The eighth journalist asked for an intervention in English, to which Dr Alfieri answered with a summary of the Pope’s condition in that language.
8 What type of rehabilitation will the Pope have and what is his mood like?
The ninth question was about what type of rehabilitation the Pope will have and about his mood. The Doctor answered that the therapy is a follow-up to that initiated in the Hospital. The Pope’s mood was summarized with an experience: at one point the doctors approached him and asked him how he was: “still alive,” he answered, which reflected his good mood.
9 Can the Pope eat on his own?
The ninth question was if the Pope had lost weight, if he can eat on his own and if he can write. The answer was that the Pope has lost weight, that he can write and that he can also eat on his own, progressing increasingly in his respect.
The next question was about the time and mode of departure, for which no details were offered.
10 Will the Pope travel to Turkey?
This question was about a possible trip to Turkey; to which the Vatican spokesman noted that it would be difficult to undertake, and he also pointed out that the trip had not been confirmed.
