Pope will have to learn to speak again - media

On March 23, 2025, Pope Francis made his first public appearance after five weeks of clinical treatment. The therapy prescribed for the pontiff led to a speech impairment, and he will undergo a long rehabilitation. This was reported by Reuters.

The Pope’s doctors said on Saturday that his aging body would need “a long time” to fully recover and said they had prescribed two more months of rest in the Vatican.

“The Pope is feeling very well, but the high-flow oxygen is drying everything out. He needs to learn to speak again, but his general physical condition is the same as it was before,” — said Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, head of the Vatican’s doctrinal office.

As reported, on March 19, 2025, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople took part in events marking the 12th anniversary of the election of Pope Francis, which took place at the Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul. In his speech, the head of Phanar expressed hope for a joint celebration of Easter and the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council.