After spending more than a month in the hospital, Pope Francis has overcome a life-threatening case of double pneumonia, clearing the way for his release on Sunday.
Dr. Sergio Alfieri, head of the team that’s been caring for the pontiff, announced the good news outside Gemelli Hospital in Rome on Saturday. He said the pope will continue to recover at home under a “protected discharge,” which will include ongoing “drug therapy” and a “rest period of at least two months.”
“Today we are happy to say that tomorrow he will be at home,” Alfieri told reporters.
The 88-year-old pontiff was hospitalized on Feb.14 with a severe case of bronchitis, after which he eventually developed pneumonia in both lungs. As a result, he suffered a series of respiratory crises that put him in critical condition and required non-invasive mechanical ventilation to help him breathe at night.
Earlier this week, the Vatican confirmed he no longer required the ventilator and that he was instead receiving oxygen via a small tube under his nose.
Pope Francis is slated to make a public appearance on Sunday before he finally returns home, according to Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni. He’s expected to offer a blessing and greet well-wishers from the hospital’s balcony. It will be his first live appearance since he was admitted 38 days ago, the longest hospitalization he has faced during his 12-year papacy.
Francis — who has led the Catholic church since 2013 — has faced no shortage of health issues in recent years. He now uses a wheelchair due to knee and back pain. He’s also prone to lung infections because of pleurisy he suffered as a young adult and had part of one lung removed.
In 2021, the pope underwent surgery to address a painful condition called diverticulitis, and again in 2023 to repair a hernia. He has additionally battled long bouts of bronchitis as well as influenza and other related issues.