Pope Francis leaves hospital after three-day stay over respiratory infection

Colombo (News 1st) - After completing a three-day hospital stay for a respiratory infection, Pope Francis was discharged on Saturday (1 April) and according to foreign media reports made light of the situation by joking "I wasn't frightened, I'm still alive."

He had trouble breathing when he was admitted to Gemelli Hospital on Wednesday, and bronchitis was subsequently determined to be the cause.

If the results of his most recent test permitted it, the Vatican had previously declared that the pontiff would be released on Saturday.

Before stepping out to address the crowd, he was seen smiling and waving from the car. Then he headed towards the Vatican.