Pope Francis leaves hospital and returns home

The head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, has been released from the hospital after being treated for bronchitis. The 86-year-old pope bid goodbye to the leadership of the Agostino Gemelli University Policlinic hospital before leaving. According to the Holy See Press Office, the pope also briefly met with several people and offered prayers to a couple who had lost their daughter.

The Vatican had earlier stated that the pope was hospitalized for “previously scheduled checkups,” but it was discovered that the pope was suffering from a lung infection. The pope had complained about difficulty breathing before he was rushed to the hospital on Wednesday.

On Friday, Holy See Press Office Director Matteo Bruni revealed that the pope had eaten pizza for dinner the previous evening and that his health had gradually improved. Consequently, he was expected to return to the Vatican on Saturday. Bruni also announced that the pope would attend Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, marking the start of this year’s Holy Week celebrations.

The hospital, which is the largest in Rome and the teaching hospital for Catholic University’s medical school, is named after Franciscan Friar Agostino Gemelli, who was a physician and psychologist, as well as the founder and first rector of the university.

READ MORE ABOUT POPE FRANCIS’ DISCHARGE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

“His Holiness is expected to return to the Santa Marta home tomorrow, upon the outcome of the results of the last examinations this morning.”