When asked how he felt, the Pope replied “I’m still alive”, writes AFP. The pope prayed briefly with the couple who lost their baby Saturday night, Vatican reporter Cindy Wooden said. Francis drove a small white Fiat car from the hospital and headed to the Vatican.
The Pope was taken to the hospital on Wednesday because he complained of breathing problems. On Thursday, the Vatican said that Francis’ health had improved and that the pope had returned to work. On Friday, he visited patients in the children’s oncology department at the hospital where he himself was hospitalized.
He brought the children rosaries, chocolate eggs that Italian children traditionally receive at Easter, and copies of a children’s book about the birth of Jesus. During the half-hour visit, he even managed to baptize one boy, the Vatican News agency wrote.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said earlier that the Pope is expected to attend the Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, which begins the Easter celebrations.
In recent years, the Pope underwent bowel surgery and also had problems with his knee. Because of this, he has recently been using a wheelchair. Francis had previously stated that he would resign from the throne of St. Peter if his health made it impossible for him to carry out his mandate.
The Pope is in the hospital with a respiratory infection
Foreign