(PRETORIA, South Africa) — Former South African Olympic and Paralympic runner Oscar Pistorius had his parole denied following a board hearing Friday.

The hearing took place in Atteridgeville Correctional Centre on the outskirts of Pretoria, South Africa, where Pistorius has been incarcerated since 2016. Pistorius was convicted of murder in the shooting death of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013.

If granted by the parole board, Pistorius could have been freed from prison in a matter of weeks. He will now have to wait to apply again in August 2024.

“While we welcome today’s decision, today is not a cause for celebration,” the Steenkamp family said in a statement. “We miss Reeva terribly and will do so for the rest of our lives. We believe in justice and hope that it continues to prevail.”

The parole board, composed of correctional service officers and community members, considered whether Pistorius, 36, should be released and allowed to serve the remainder of his sentence on license in Pretoria after serving half of his 13-year sentence.

The closed-door parole board considered his offense, his conduct and disciplinary record while in prison, his mental and physical state, and other criteria, such as his participation in educational courses and whether he will pose a threat to public safety.

Reeva Steenkamp’s mother, June Steenkamp, told the media assembled outside the hearing that said it would be “very hard” to be in the same room as Pistorius.

The Steenkamp family’s lawyer, Tina Koen, told reporters prior to the hearing that being at the parole board decision was “very unpleasant” for June Steenkamp, “but she knows that she had to do it for Reeva and she did it and I am very proud of her and she is very relieved that it’s over.”

Koen added, “As I’ve said before, she doesn’t feel that he’s rehabilitated and hasn’t told the truth, and for that, both her and Barry [Steenkamp, Reeva’s father] submit that he must not be released on parole.”

In a globally televised trial, Pistorius was convicted in 2015 and eventually sentenced to 13 years and five months in prison for the murder of Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013 at their Pretoria East home.

He has thus far served almost eight years of his sentence, which makes him eligible to apply for parole under South African law, as he has served half of his sentence.

Pistorius, who was born with a congenital defect that led to the amputation of both legs below the knee, ran with prosthetics in the 2012 Summer Olympics. He finished second in his heat of the 400 meters, but did not advance out of the semifinal. He also ran in the 4-by-400 meter relay, where the South African team finished eighth.

He is a six-time Paralympic gold medalist.

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(ROME) — Pope Francis is expected to leave the hospital Saturday morning after spending three days recovering from bronchitis, according to the Vatican press office.

“His Holiness’s return home to Santa Marta is expected for tomorrow, dependent on his latest medical test results carried out this morning,” director of the Holy See press office, Matteo Bruni, said in a statement Friday morning.

Bruni said the pontiff’s hospital stay has gone well “with normal medical progress.”

Francis, according to the statement, ate pizza for dinner last night, had breakfast this morning, read his newspapers and then went back to work.

“I can confirm that, since he is scheduled to leave the hospital tomorrow, Pope Francis is expected to be present in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday for the Eucharistic celebration of Palm Sunday, the Passion of the Lord,” Bruni added in his statement.

Francis, 86, was taken Wednesday to the Gemelli University Hospital after complaining of some respiratory difficulties and had tests performed.

“The outcome of these showed a respiratory infection (excluding Covid 19 infection) that will require several days of appropriate hospital medical treatment,” the press office said at the time.

Bronchitis occurs when the airways in the lungs, which are known as the bronchial tubes, become inflamed.

It often develops as a result of viral infections including the common cold, influenza and RSV, according to the National Institutes of Health.

It’s unknown what treatment the Pope is receiving aside from an “infusion-based antibiotic therapy,” according to the Vatican. The NIH says most cases of bronchitis clear up on their own with a mix of over-the-counter medications to relieve coughing and loosen mucus, drinking hot tea or water, and inhaler medications if needed.

The overnight stay marked the first time the Vatican has publicly announced that Francis has gone to the hospital since he underwent surgery to have part of his colon removed in July 2021 due to intestinal inflammation.

It’s previously been reported that the Pope had part of one lung removed as a young man because of a respiratory infection.

President Joe Biden sent well wishes to Francis during remarks at an event Wednesday celebrating Greek Independence Day.

“The pope is ill now, so say an extra prayer for him,” said Biden, who — in 2021 — became the first Roman Catholic U.S. leader in more than half a century to meet at the Vatican with the head of the Catholic Church.

On Thursday, Francis sent a message of thanks to those who’d wished him well.

“I am touched by the many messages received in these hours and I express my gratitude for the closeness and prayer,” he said on Twitter.

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