U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden have wished a »speedy recovery» to Pope Francis, who has been hospitalized since Wednesday for an »infectious-based bronchitis».
»Jill and I keep Pope Francis in our prayers and send our best wishes for his speedy and complete recovery. The world needs Pope Francis,» the U.S. president said on his official Twitter profile.
Francis was admitted to the Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital in Rome on Wednesday afternoon, where he remains under antibiotic treatment to alleviate the respiratory infection. The Pope is in the room on the tenth floor of the so-called »floor of the Popes», where he was already two years ago when he was operated on for severe diverticular stenosis with signs of sclerosing diverticulitis.
The director of the Vatican press office, Matteo Bruni, has assured that the Pope’s state of health »is progressively improving» and has reported that this morning he has read some newspapers and resumed part of his work.
Despite the fact that the Pope’s diagnostic picture has improved markedly in the last hours, some Italian media have taken for granted that he will not celebrate the Mass this Palm Sunday. In fact, they have pointed out that it will be the Cardinal Emeritus Prefect of the Dicastery for the Oriental Churches, the Argentine Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, who should preside the celebration next Sunday in his place, unless there are changes in the race.
The Vatican communications office has not yet confirmed this information, but the Italian media also point out that the Easter Sunday morning Mass will be celebrated on his behalf by the Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Bishops and Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, next Sunday, April 9.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
