Pope Francis Concelebrates Mass on the Solemnity of the Annunciation in his Chapel at the Vatican and his Many Activities are Suspended during Convalescence

On March 25th, the Vatican released that Pope Francis is continuing with treatment, physical therapy, and concelebrating Mass at his residence of Casa Santa Marta, the Holy See Press Office noted on Tuesday as it provided updates to journalists on the Holy Father's recovery. The Press Office also said the Pope continues some work activities, but is not currently receiving visitors, and that no decisions have been made regarding his schedule for the weeks to come.
Pope Francis' convalescence continues at his residence of Casa Santa Marta with his continued treatment, mobility and respiratory-related physiotherapy, especially for voice recovery, personal prayer, and concelebrating Mass in the residence's chapel.

These were among the updates the Holy See Press Office provided to accredited journalists regarding the Pope’s health after he was discharged on Sunday, March 23rd, following 38 days of hospitalization in Rome's Gemelli Hospital due to bilateral pneumonia.

After greeting 3,000 people from a balcony at the hospital and briefly stopping at Rome's Marian Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Pope Francis returned to his Vatican residence, Casa Santa Marta, where he began his period of recovery and rest.

The Pope's period of convalescence and rest at his residence should be about “two months,” maintained Doctor Sergio Alfieri, the doctor overseeing the Pope’s hospitalization at Gemelli, and Dr. Luigi Carbone, his personal physician, at Saturday evening's press conference at Gemelli Hospital.
Treatment, physical therapy, and oxygen administration

“The Pope," the Holy See Press Office noted on Tuesday, "is following the convalescence plan as described by the doctors on Saturday.”

Doctors Alfieri and Carbone stated that the Holy Father must continue pharmacological treatment “for a long time, administered orally,” while undergoing full-time mobility and respiratory-related physiotherapy, continuing as he had done daily at the Gemelli.

The physicians also advised him to avoid meetings, whether individual or group, and to receive 24-hour medical assistance to provide for his needs, including oxygen therapy, and to address any possible emergencies. This care is being provided by the Directorate of Health and Hygiene of Vatican City and a medical team is always present with the Pope.

The Holy Father continues to receive oxygen therapy under the same conditions as during his hospitalization—high-flow oxygen through nasal cannulas at night, with a gradual reduction of oxygen therapy during the day.
As the Pope did at the hospital, where he had concelebrated Mass in the tenth-floor chapel, he now visits the chapel on the second floor of Santa Marta to concelebrate Mass.

Moreover, he continues with work activities, in accordance with the limited capacity previously mentioned. In fact, the Holy See Press Office's noon bulletin announced the appointments of Archbishop Ignazio Ceffalia as Apostolic Nuncio to Belarus and Monsignor Francesco Ibba as Defender of the Bond at the Roman Rota Tribunal.

No precise details have been provided regarding the Pope’s schedule for the coming days, nor for future events such as the various Jubilee celebrations or Holy Week rites. As the doctors emphasized, his recovery is being closely monitored, and they are awaiting the “expected clinical improvements.”

The Holy See Press Office noted, “Some decisions are under consideration and will be made based on the improvements that occur in the coming week.”

Tomorrow, Wednesday, March 26, the General Audience will not take place, just as it had not the previous weeks.
The prepared text of the Pope’s catechesis will, as it has been done throughout this month, be distributed in written form, as has been the case each Wednesday since February 14.

Pope Francis, the Press Office noted, is not receiving visitors at this time and has only seen his closest collaborators over the past two days. 

Reports indicate that Pope Francis is happy to be home. Both Alfieri and Carbone have previously mentioned the good spirits the Pope regained once his health improved. The most dangerous phase of his illness has passed, and the most severe infections have been overcome, as confirmed in the Gemelli press conference.

Source: Vatican News