Returning From Hospital, Pope Francis Must Rest For 2 Months

Pope Francis/PHOTO via Instagram @vaticannews

JAKARTA - After 38 days of hospitalization for his double pneumonia, Pope Francis appeared in public for the first time on Sunday since February 14 and returned to the Vatican.

However, the doctor advised the 88-year-old whale to rest for another two months so that his body fully recovers.

But it's unclear how often people will be able to meet with the leader of 1.4 billion Catholics in the world in the coming weeks.

The Pope left Gemelli hospital in Rome on Sunday and returned to Casa Santa Marta, a small Vatican building that has been his home since he was elected pope in 2013.

Built in 1996 as a place for cardinals to stay during the conclave of the papal to choose a new whale, a structured Santa Marta like a hotel, with living rooms on five floors, smallulants, and chapels.

However, these facilities are generally not open to the public. In the years between the conclaves, the venue has mainly been home to many priests working at the Vatican, who have special permits that allow them to enter.

The Pope and his closest aides occupy a series of rooms on the second floor of the building. In his private residence, Francis has lived relatively unaided to date, taking care of many of his own needs, and most of them are not visible to the public.

The Vatican indicated no new specific arrangements had been made for the facility to treat Fransiskus as he recovered from pneumonia.

The only change is to install new adjustable beds, with electronic controls to make them more accessible to the Pope, who has been using wheelchairs in recent years, Corriere della Sera Italia reported on Sunday.

Vatican deputy director of health services Luigi Carbone told reporters on Saturday Fransiskus will have 24-hour nurses and will continue to receive additional oxygen, as needed.