“In a hospital there is a lot of heroism, lots of tenderness for patients. You know sick people, we are capricious. Capriciousness comes with illness. You need to be patient,” he said, praising the work of all the staff at the Gemelli.
“I went to the children’s ward and saw with what tenderness they took care of the children,” he said.
“Now I need to sleep for four days,” he joked after answering the various questions.
Francis, who marked the 10th anniversary of his pontificate in March, has suffered a number of ailments in recent years.
He was last hospitalised in 2021 for surgery on his colon, but on that occasion he was hidden from view as he left the Gemelli.
He faces a testing week as the Roman Catholic Church builds up to the most important date in its calendar – Easter Sunday on April 9 – with a series of ceremonies, services and processions.
The dean of the college of cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, has already said that a cardinal would help the Pope during the week’s celebrations and take care of altar duties.
A similar arrangement was put in place last year, when the pope sat to one side during some Easter events due to persistent knee pain, leaving it to senior cardinals to lead the Masses.
Reuters