Pope Francis back for Easter Mass after being hospitalised

Thousands of Catholics gathered in Saint Peter’s Square on Sunday to hear Pope Francis give the Easter mass.

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POPE FRANCIS RETURNS AFTER ILLNESS

Pope Francis returned to his papal duties after his recent stay in the hospital following a case of bronchitis.

He was discharged from a Rome hospital on 1 April after a three-night stay for a bronchial infection. He has suffered increasing health issues in recent years, and it was his second stay in THE hospital since 2021.

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2021 STAY IN GEMELLI LASTED 10 DAYS

The pope’s stay at Gemelli in July 2021 lasted 10 days. He was admitted after he suffered from a type of diverticulitis, which is an inflammation of pockets that develop in the lining of the intestine, and required surgery.

He suffered from chronic knee pain that required him to use a wheelchair. His postponement last year of a scheduled trip to Africa and various events at home fueled intense speculation about his health, and in a July 2022 interview, he acknowledged that he needed to slow down.

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As previously reported, Pope Francis has fuelled the rumour mill with a postponed Africa trip and the curious timing of an upcoming meeting of cardinals, but experts caution against assuming a resignation is nigh.

Hobbled by pain in his knee and forced to use a wheelchair in recent weeks, the 85-year-old pontiff postponed a July trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan last year.

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