Pope Francis is gradually recovering and returning to his daily duties at the Vatican after a serious battle with pneumonia that required a five-week hospital stay. According to Vatican officials, the 88-year-old pope is spending time at his desk for work and is celebrating Mass in his private chapel each day.
The Vatican reported that Pope Francis is undergoing physical and respiratory therapy, and he is experiencing improvements in his voice. This ongoing recovery includes significant work, like moving forward with the canonization process for the first saints from Venezuela and Papua New Guinea, as well as honoring an Armenian archbishop who was killed during the tragic events of 1915.
The pope’s latest efforts include the formal recognition of three individuals: Peter To Rot, a layman from Papua New Guinea who was martyred during World War II; Mother María del Monte Carmelo, a religious founder from Venezuela; and Archbishop Ignatius Choukrallah Maloyan, who was executed alongside 13 priests for their steadfast faith during the Armenian massacres.
Those events in 1915 led to the deaths of around 1.5 million people and are recognized by many historians as the first genocide of the twentieth century. However, Turkey disputes this characterization, claiming the figures have been exaggerated and that those killed were victims of war and unrest.
Despite the health challenges, the pope remains in good spirits, receiving warm greetings from supporters. Recently taken X-rays indicated a slight improvement in a persisting lung infection, although doctors noted that a fungal infection may take several months to resolve completely.
Since returning to the Vatican, the pope has had no official visitors, apart from Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the physician who managed his hospital treatment. Dr. Alfieri plans to visit weekly to ensure the pope’s continued recovery. Due to the severity of his illness, doctors have advised the pope to rest for two months and avoid large crowds. The Vatican has yet to confirm whether he will be able to participate in Holy Week celebrations leading up to Easter on April 20.
Dr. Alfieri revealed that there were moments of concern during the pope’s acute respiratory crisis shortly after his hospitalization, which required decisive medical action to stabilize his condition.
