Pope Francis will be discharged from the Gemelli Hospital in Rome on Sunday after a five -week stay after severe respiratory infection, doctors confirmed.
Pontiff, 88, who was admitted on February 14, had been diagnosed with double pneumonia and experienced two critical episodes that represented a serious threat to his life. “Two very critical episodes” occurred where his “life was in danger,” according to Dr. Sergio Alfieri, one of the doctors who supervises his care.
Despite the seriousness of his illness, Dr. Alfieri declared that the Pope was never intubated and remained alert throughout his treatment. Although it is not completely recovered, the Pope is now in stable conditions and no longer has pneumonia. “Today we are pleased to say that tomorrow will be at home,” Dr. Alfieri told reporters on Saturday.
Before returning to the Vatican, Pope Francis is expected to make a brief public appearance from his window at the Gemelli hospital on Sunday, offering a blessing to the faithful in what would be their first public appearance since hospitalization.
Doctors have said that it will require at least two months of rest in the Vatican before resuming complete tasks. They also noticed that double pneumonia has affected their vocal cords, and can take time for their voice to return to their normal strength. Cardinal Victor Fernández had previously explained that “high flow oxygen dry everything” and that the Pope “needs to learn how to speak,” according to Reuters.
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The Vatican confirmed Friday that the breathing and mobility of the Pope had improved. It is no longer based on mechanical ventilation at night, receives oxygen in its place through a nasal tube, and uses an oxygen less of high flow during the day.
Since his hospital admission, the Pope has only been seen once in public, in a photograph shared by the Vatican last week, showing him praying in a hospital chapel.
Earlier this month, an audio recording of him speaking in his native Spaniard was reproduced in the Plaza de San Pedro, in which his voice was breathless by thanking the Catholic faithful for their prayers.
Pope Francis, who has directed the Roman Catholic Church for almost 12 years, has faced several health challenges throughout his life, including the elimination of part of a lung at age 21, which has made it more susceptible to respiratory infections.
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