Pope Francis paid a surprise visit to children on a cancer ward on Friday, even baptising a baby, as he prepared to leave the hospital where he has been treated for three days.
The 86-year-old pontiff was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Wednesday with what turned out to be a bronchitis infection, and has been treated with antibiotics. He is due to be discharged on Saturday.
Before his departure, the Argentine pope left the 10th-floor private papal suite on Friday to visit the paediatric oncology ward, handing out chocolate Easter eggs and chatting with parents.
A video published by the Vatican showed him baptising a sleeping baby boy named Miguel Angel, who woke up and cried after Francis sprinkled him with Holy Water from a small silver receptacle.
The pope, who the Vatican has said plans to preside over Palm Sunday services this weekend in Saint Peter’s Square, has not been confined to his hospital bed.
On Thursday, he shared pizza with staff looking after him, and has prayed at the papal suite’s private chapel, according to spokesman Matteo Bruni.
Francis, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, has suffered increasing health issues in recent years. This was his second stay in hospital since 2021.
“His Holiness’s return home to Santa Marta (his Vatican residence) is expected tomorrow, in the wake of the results of the latest tests this morning,” Bruni said on Friday.
Amid concerns over the pope’s presence at events for Holy Week and Easter, the most important week in the Christian calendar, the Vatican confirmed he would preside over Palm Sunday mass.
This means the pope will stay seated while someone else — probably a senior cardinal — conducts the ceremony at the altar.
Francis’ hospitalisation, just weeks after he marked 10 years as head of the worldwide Catholic Church, had sparked widespread concern.
He has repeatedly said he would consider stepping down if his health failed him, following the example of his predecessor, Benedict XVI.
In St Peter’s Square on Friday, many expressed relief over the pope’s improved condition, including Vatican guide Giuseppe, 43, who said the octogenarian pope had probably been “asking too much of himself” of late.
“But he’s a strong man and I think he’s going to make it. He will be back very soon. It’s good news because it’s Easter time… An Easter without the pope presiding over the ceremony would be very sad,” he said.
After initially saying Francis was hospitalised for pre-planned checks, the Vatican later revealed he had complained of breathing difficulties.
By Thursday morning he was well enough to eat, read the newspapers and do some work.
