Pope Francis improves. Today he was also able to have breakfast, after a night spent in peace and rest. He got out of bed and spent part of his time in the chair. He read the newspapers, also took a look at the mail, especially the many messages of wishes for a speedy recovery, and even began to deal with some work practices.
The return to normality is also sanctioned by the Bulletin of the Vatican press office, which contained an appointment by the Pontiff of a new bishop in Ecuador. The Pope's recovery after the operation on the abdomen on Wednesday afternoon continues with great strides. The medical team announced that "the clinical picture is progressively improving and the post-operative course is regular," said the director of the Vatican press office, Matteo Bruni. He has no fever, has been suspended on an IV and "hemodynamic parameters are normal," medical staff said. In the afternoon he gathered in prayer and dedicated himself to work activities; in the evening he received the Eucharist.
Francis therefore begins to glimpse a return to normality even if the hospitalization will not be short; Given the type of intervention, and also Bergoglio's age, he could not be dismissed before the end of next week. It is therefore announced for Sunday, June 11, the recitation of the Angelus from the same Gemelli Polyclinic where he is hospitalized.
In the July 2021 hospitalization, the Pope recited the Angelus from the balcony of the tenth floor, next to the papal apartment of the hospital. Tomorrow we will evaluate whether he will be able to reach the balcony, with a wheelchair, or if he will say the prayer from the window of his room. Another option is that the video be broadcast live from his room, but it is conceivable that the Pope will do everything to directly greet the faithful who will arrive for Sunday's event in the hospital square.
Tomorrow afternoon he is expected to greet the 'Not Alone' gathering organized by the Fratelli Tutti foundation, which will see thirty Nobel Prize winners, artists and young people in St. Peter's Square to reiterate the value of fraternity against all wars. The Pope could send a written greeting but also a video to be transmitted to the thousands of faithful who will participate in the event. Francis also today has been overwhelmed by the affection of many who hope for his speedy recovery. Among the messages there is the touching one of the children of the oncology ward. "We very much hope that you can recover as soon as possible to return to carry out your daily activities", "thank you for what you do", "we are waiting for you with open arms": these are some of the passages of a letter that children with cancer wrote to the Pope. They also sent drawings and a big heart with "with you... always." A way to thank the Pope who twice, both during the July 2021 operation for diverticular stenosis, and in the recent hospitalization for bronchitis, surprisingly visited their department on the tenth floor, adjacent to his apartment. Francis thanked them, as well as the staff who assist him and in a tweet asked everyone: "I ask you to continue to pray for me".
