Pope Francis is scheduled to leave the hospital on Sunday and return to his residence at the Vatican, where he will spend “at least two months” recuperating, according to one of his doctors.
The 88-year-old pope has been hospitalized at Rome’s Gemelli hospital since February 14, when he was admitted due to breathing difficulties and subsequently faced pneumonia in both lungs.
The Vatican announced that on Sunday, the pope plans to wave and offer a blessing from Gemelli hospital.
Doctor Sergio Alfieri stated on Saturday, “Tomorrow, the pope will leave the hospital and return to Saint Martha’s House” in the Vatican, where his residential suite is located. He noted that the head of the Catholic Church will need to undergo “a long convalescence…. of at least two months.”
Doctor Luca Carbone, another physician at the hospital, reported that the pope’s health “is improving” and expressed hope that he will soon be able to resume his normal activities.
Alfieri explained, “Further progress will occur at his home, as a hospital—even though it may seem odd—is the least favorable place for recovery due to the increased risk of infections.”
Speculation about the pope potentially resigning due to his fragile health has circulated, reminiscent of the decision made by his predecessor, Benedict XVI.
This hospitalization marks the longest of Francis’s papacy, raising concerns about who will lead the numerous religious events scheduled leading up to Easter, the most sacred time in the Christian calendar. For the first time since his election in March 2013, the pope has missed the Angelus prayers—typically held every Sunday—for five consecutive weeks.
The Vatican confirmed earlier on Saturday that the pope’s appearance on Sunday would follow the Angelus prayers. Notably, on Wednesday, it was reported that Francis had stopped using an oxygen mask.
Throughout the pope’s hospital stay, the Vatican provided daily updates on his health, especially during critical moments. On Monday, Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin conveyed that he had observed an improvement in the pope’s condition during a visit. However, when asked if the topic of resignation had come up, he emphatically responded, “No, no, no, absolutely not.”
Many Catholics and others around the world have been praying for the pope’s quick recovery, leaving flowers, candles, and notes outside the Gemelli hospital in support of him.
