Pope Francis, 88, who has been battling pneumonia for over five weeks, will be discharged from Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Sunday, but his doctors have recommended at least two months of rest at the Vatican.
According to Sergio Alfieri, head of the pope’s medical team, Francis faced four severe respiratory crises during his hospitalization, with two episodes posing a serious threat to his life. Though he no longer has pneumonia, he is still recovering from a complex infection.
While the pontiff avoided intubation, he relied on non-invasive ventilation and has lost some weight due to his illness. A nurse will be assigned to care for him upon his return to the Vatican.
Despite his condition, Pope Francis is expected to make a brief public appearance from his hospital window on Sunday before being discharged. However, his recovery period may impact his scheduled meetings, including an April 8 visit with Britain’s King Charles and the Vatican’s Easter celebrations on April 20. The Vatican will decide on these engagements at a later date.
