Pope Francis' recovery: Careful transition from hospital to home
Upon leaving the Gemelli Hospital in Rome, 61-year-old Luigi Carbone, the Pope's "personal doctor" in the Vatican, is overseeing the Pope's health. He will determine how Francis will manage his duties in the coming weeks.
On Sunday, after 37 days, Pope Francis left the hospital where he had been admitted on 14th February due to a respiratory infection. He greeted those gathered from the balcony of the fifth floor of the Gemelli Polyclinic. "Thank you," he said.
Dr Luigi Carbone is one of the doctors who cared for the Pope at Gemelli and who participated in two press conferences. Now, he will make future decisions regarding therapy and rehabilitation and advise how long the recovery period should last. In this task, he will be assisted by 54-year-old Massimiliano Strappetti, Francis's nurse and a person he trusts.
As seen during the car journey to the Vatican, Francis must continue oxygen therapy.
Strappetti, who practically never leaves his side, will assist daily with physical and respiratory rehabilitation. In case of complications, a medical team remains available near the Santa Marta House, ready to intervene 24 hours a day.
Francis is staying in the Santa Marta House but, according to doctors' recommendations, must limit contact with others as much as possible. Here, the role of Edgar Peña Parra, a 65-year-old Venezuelan and the third person in the hierarchy of the Holy See, becomes significant. As the "substitute for the Secretariat of State," he acts as a daily liaison between the Pope and the Vatican machinery.
Detailed instructions from the doctors
According to ABC Sociedad, the Pope's discharge from the Gemelli Hospital marks the beginning of a new phase of the pontificate, which Cardinal Fernández described as "full of surprises," but which will be extremely delicate. "Francis will need to arm himself with patience, as every gesture and decision will be closely analysed by those urging him to resign from office," it reads.
Francis returned home with precise instructions from the doctors: he cannot immediately return to normal activities and will have to continue medication, oxygen therapy, and physical and respiratory rehabilitation for at least two months.
Time will be needed to regain the ability to speak clearly, as is the case with most patients who have had bilateral pneumonia.
