Pope Francis left the hospital on Saturday after a three-night stay to treat bronchitis, pausing to greet visitors and joke that he was “still alive.”
The 86-year-old pontiff, who was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Wednesday with breathing problems, stepped out of the car and smiled and joked with the crowd.
When asked how he felt, he replied twice with a big smile, “I am still alive!”
As the crowd applauded, Francis left for the Vatican to begin planning for Holy Week and Easter, the most important week in the Christian calendar.
The pontiff felt unwell Wednesday after a general audience in St Peter’s Square, but his condition improved after he was given antibiotics.
On Friday, the pope visited the children’s cancer ward at the hospital, handing out chocolate Easter eggs and even baptising a weeks-old baby boy, according to a video published by the Vatican.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said Francis had been working earlier on Friday in the hospital’s private papal suite on the 10th floor and catching up on newspapers. On Thursday night, he ate pizza with some hospital staff.
The Argentine pope confirmed on Saturday he will preside over Palm Sunday mass in St Peter’s Square, the start of a busy week of events leading up to Easter.
Francis’ hospitalisation was his second since 2021, when he underwent colon surgery, also at Gemelli.
His increasing health issues over the past year have sparked widespread concern, including speculation that he might choose to retire rather than stay in the job for life.