Pope Francis' last hours at Rome's Gemelli hospital were moving. He spent the afternoon before he was discharged visiting children in the cancer ward, bringing them rosaries, chocolate eggs and books. The Pope even baptized one of them, Miguel Ángel, who was only a few weeks old.
Miguel Ángel's parents took him to the hospital, with the help of the police, after he fell and lost consciousness.
Dozens of people crowded the entrance of the hospital awaiting the Pope's departure. He spent a few moments with some of the bystanders. An especially powerful moment took place when a couple who had lost their daughter the night before appraoched Pope Francis to receive consolation. The Pope took his time greeting the crowds before leaving the hospital.
Pope Francis then went to the Basilica of St. Mary Major to pray for the children he had seen in the hospital before Rome's patron saint.
Before entering the Vatican, the Pope also gave chocolate Easter eggs to the military and police who were at the entrance closest to his Casa Santa Marta residence. His last words before entering were dedicated to the journalists present. Pope Francis confirmed that he was still planning to visit Hungary at the end of the month.
JRB
TR: AT
