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As expected, this morning, April 1, Pope Francis was discharged from Gemelli hospital, after a course of IV antibiotics cleared a respiratory infection. He is scheduled to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass tomorrow in St. Peter's Square.
He was admitted last Wednesday after the general audience.
As the Holy Father left the hospital, he got out of the car to greet some of the people present.
"He embraced a couple of parents who lost their daughter last night, stopping to pray with them," reported Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office.
To be with Our Lady
With humor, the 86-year-old Pontiff responded to journalists, rejoicing to be "still alive," as onlookers cheered.
Pope Francis then went to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore to pray before Our Lady, has he has done more then 100 times during his pontificate, including before and after each international trip.
"The Pope went before the icon of Mary Salus Populi Romani, entrusting to her in prayer the children he met yesterday in the department of pediatric oncology and child neurosurgery of the hospital, and all the sick and those who suffer because of illness or loss of loved ones," reported the press office.
The Vatican further noted:
Before leaving the facility, the Holy Father greeted the Rector of the Catholic University, Franco Anelli, along with his closest collaborators, the General Director of the Polyclinic, Marco Elefanti, the General Ecclesiastical Assistant of the Catholic University, Monsignor Claudio Giuliodori, and the team of doctors and health workers who assisted him during these days.
The Gemelli Polyclinic is part of the Faculty of Medicine of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, an institution based in Milan.
Yesterday, the Holy Father visited the pediatric oncology ward, and even baptized a newborn.
