Pope Francis will be discharged from the hospital on Sunday after 38 days of treatment for life-threatening pneumonia. Doctors report steady recovery, though he will require two months of rest and rehabilitation.
Pope Francis is scheduled to be released from the hospital on Sunday, marking the conclusion of a 38-day struggle against a life-threatening case of pneumonia in both of his lungs. Doctors at Gemelli Hospital in Rome confirmed the news, adding that the 88-year-old pontiff will require at least two months of rest and rehabilitation at the Vatican as part of his recovery.
The Argentine pope was admitted to Gemelli on February 14 after suffering from bronchitis, which worsened into pneumonia. His condition soon became critical, prompting doctors to take immediate action. Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the medical director of the hospital, offered a positive update on Francis’ health, stating that the pope had made substantial progress, stabilizing after several severe respiratory crises that had placed him in critical condition.
This announcement marks the first in-person briefing from the pope’s medical team in a month, and it offers encouraging signs that Francis is on the road to recovery. His hospitalization has been the longest of his 12-year papacy.
Francis' health problems began when a bout of bronchitis quickly developed into a complex respiratory infection, later diagnosed as a combination of bacterial, viral, and fungal infections that led to pneumonia in both of his lungs. In addition to his lung condition, the pope also faced complications such as anemia, low blood platelets, and the onset of kidney failure. However, these issues have been resolved with treatment, including two blood transfusions.
The pope’s respiratory condition worsened around February 28, when he suffered a severe coughing fit, leading to aspiration pneumonia and requiring the use of a noninvasive ventilation mask to aid his breathing. He endured two additional respiratory crises in the following days, requiring manual intervention from his medical team to clear his lungs. Despite these setbacks, Pope Francis has shown resilience and his doctors are optimistic about his recovery.
On Sunday morning, Pope Francis will appear from his 10th-floor suite at the hospital to bless the faithful. This will be his first live appearance since his hospitalization, though he previously released an audio message on March 6 and was photographed by the Vatican on March 16.
Pope Francis, who has chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed during his youth, is prone to respiratory issues, particularly during the winter months. His recent health crisis, however, has highlighted both the seriousness of his condition and his determination to recover.
As the pope prepares to return to the Vatican, his doctors emphasized that rest and rehabilitation remain essential components of his recovery, and that the pontiff’s health will continue to be closely monitored in the coming months.
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