Pope thanks medical team that cared for him during hospitalization April 16, 2025By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis personally thanked the health care workers and medical staff who cared for him in Rome’s Gemelli hospital for 38 days while he recovered from respiratory infections. Pope Francis poses for a photo with the heath care workers and medical staff who cared for him during his hospitalization during a meeting at the Vatican April 16, 2025. (CNS photo/Justin McLellan) “Thank you, thank you above all for what you did,” the pope told leaders and staff from Gemelli hospital, the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart — which oversees the facility — and the Vatican’s health department. The 20-minute meeting took place April 16 in a room behind the Vatican’s Paul VI Audience Hall and included about 70 people, the Vatican press office said. “Thank you,” the pope said, gesturing toward Elena Beccalli, rector of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart. “When women are in charge, things go (forward),” he joked with a smile. Daniele Franco, president of the board of directors of the Gemelli Foundation, opened the meeting with greetings, Easter wishes and words of support for the pope’s ongoing recovery. In response, Pope Francis told the group, “I pray for you; please, do so for me, thank you. And thank you for your service in the hospital, very good, keep it up.” Pope Francis is more than three weeks into a two-month convalescence prescribed by his doctors during which they recommended he not meet with big groups to avoid being exposed to infections. The meeting with the medical staff was the pope’s first public meeting since he was discharged from the hospital. An edited video of the meeting released by the Vatican did not show the pope individually greeting or shaking hands with attendees. Read More Vatican News Pope Leo XIV’s August prayer intention is ‘for evangelization in the city’ Pope Leo writes to 97-year-old cardinal who spent 18 years in labor camps Pope Leo’s meeting with Patti Smith highlights rocker’s Church-adjacent artistry Pope Leo on his ancestry, and how he’s a ‘pope who happens to be American’ Pope Leo XIV to offer public Masses and audiences every week of August Pope Leo XIV at Andrea Bocelli concert: Music’s beauty points us to God Copyright © 2025 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Print
