Pope Francis has been seen for the first time in public at noon this Sunday, after 37 days admitted with pneumonia at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome. He has left one of the hospital balconies and, for just two minutes and with obvious movement difficulties and to speak and breathe, he has greeted the faithful gathered in front of the health center. Although he was not expected to speak, he said a few words: “Thank you all. I see that lady with yellow flowers, very well,” he said, referring to a woman who was among the attendees.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 88, has reappeared at 12.02. He was in a wheelchair – he moved like this before his entry, for two years, due to problems on his knees – and he has not been able to raise his arms, only his hands and forearms. Prevented from moving easily, he has greeted his thumb and then has taught the blessing with visible difficulty to make the sign of the cross with his hand. He has spoken in a weak voice and then a grimace of contraction has been seen on his face, due to the difficulty to breathe. At 12.04 it has been introduced again in the room by its assistants.
The doctors already admitted on Saturday that he has faced “two episodes in which his life was in danger” and now he must continue his recovery, with rest, therapy and rehabilitation, for at least two months. In his fleeting appearance, the sequelae of the disease have been verified, which has practically left him speechless, although doctors hope he can recover it “in a short time”.
Then, at 12.13, he has, in a white fiat cinquecento, in the seat of the co -pilot, from which he has greeted the faithful without lowering the window. In principle, he was heading to the Vatican, but when the entourage has reached the immediate vicinity of the small state, he has changed course towards the Basilica of Santa María la Mayor, in the Historic Center of Rome, where he always comes to pray to the return of each of his trips, and also on this occasion.
It was not planned and has caused surprise among tourists who were at the time, with scenes of a certain bewilderment and improvisation of security services. The Vatican has detailed after the Pope has delivered to Cardinal Lithuanian Rolandas Makrickas, Archpriest coadjutor of the basilica, a bouquet of flowers to deposit it in the image of the Virgin of Salus Popoli Romani (protector of the Roman people). At 12.58 his car has finally entered the Vatican walls. It has been appreciated that inside the vehicle he breathed oxygen with nasal cannulas, with a bottle placed on the back of his seat.
This has been the second longest convalescence of a Pope at the Gemelli Hospital, from the 55 days that John Paul II spent there, the first pontiff to be admitted to this center.
During the last five weeks, Francisco has occupied a private apartment reserved for the potatoes on the tenth of the Gemelli, a private hospital dependent on the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart. In addition to his room, he had a small private chapel and other rooms. Today it has not looked at this enclosure but from the fifth floor, to be more visible to the faithful gathered in front of the building.
The Vatican has disseminated at noon a message written by the Pope for the Angelus, which in his first lines says: “During this long period of hospitalization, I have had the opportunity to experience the patience of the Lord, which I see also reflected in the tireless care of doctors and health workers, as well as in the care and hope of the relatives of the sick.”
Until today the only image of the pontiff that had spread the Vatican was a photograph in which he appeared on his back, praying in the apartment chapel, an image that was made public last Sunday. Before, on March 6, the Vatican released an engraved message that was issued in the Plaza de San Pedro during the prayer of the Rosary. At that time, rather than transmitting tranquility, it caused apprehension. Now you must face at least two months of rehabilitation and care, unable to join with large groups of people and limit your agenda.
The Pope will now settle again in the residence of Santa Marta in which he has lived since he was chosen Pontiff in 2013. This place is a kind of hotel, within the small city, to the left of the Basilica of San Pedro, which John Paul II built to house the cardinals in the conclaves and that the rest of the time hosts the clergymen through Rome. After his choice, Jorge Mario Bergoglio preferred not to occupy the pontifical apartments of the apostolic apartment and chose to live in a suite, the 201, of this residence. Now the room is being prepared for rehabilitation, with oxygen equipment and what is necessary for respiratory and motory physiotherapy.
The return to the public life of the Pontiff is an important signal in the midst of. The Vatican has continually transmitted the idea that Francisco has always been aware and lucid and has maintained a certain workload, except in the critical moments of his convalescence. Bergoglio himself has said on several occasions that he would resign, as he did in 2013 his predecessor, Benedict XVI, if he did not see in a position to continue, but only in the extreme case. Neither he nor the Vatican are thinking about it at this time. But it is clear that a new stage of Francisco’s pontificate is opened, as it is in fragility conditions and must reduce the work rate that he has led so far.
