Pope Francis is scheduled to be discharged from the hospital on Sunday, his doctors at Gemelli Hospital said.
Francis, 88, was hospitalized for bronchitis on Feb. 14 and remained under care for more than five weeks. At times, the pope was in critical condition and required high-flow oxygen therapy, according to the Vatican, and his changing health status captivated the world’s attention.
Addressing reporters outside the hospital in Rome on Saturday, the pope’s doctors acknowledged that his condition had been “life threatening” on two occasions, but confirmed he has remained stable for at least two weeks.
“We have prepared to welcome him home,” Dr. Luigi Carbone said.
His doctors added that he will be under a “protected discharge,” which will require ongoing medications, oxygen assistance as needed and a period of rest “for at least two months.”
“Immediately, he won’t be able to continue his work activity of meeting groups of people or important work, that he will likely be able to do once he has finished the period of convalescence prescribed and the clinical improvements are verified,” Dr. Sergio Alfieri said.
Carbone added: “The Holy Father is improving, so let’s hope that soon he will be able to continue his normal activity.”
Throughout his illness, the Vatican has maintained that Francis has has continued to fulfill his duties. However, he has remained out of the public eye for weeks. Notably, Francis was unable to attend the Catholic Church’s jubilee celebration, a tradition dedicated to the remission of sins that occurs every 50 years, also known as the Holy Year.
Despite his health battles, the Vatican made no indications that the pope would resign, unlike his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, who stepped down in 2013 in a move that prompted global outrage.
The Vatican said in a statement earlier Saturday that the pope will greet a crowd of gatherers outside the hospital on Sunday, marking his first public appearance since his treatment began.
Francis’ hospitalization in recent weeks was not his first time battling serious ailments. In 2021, he underwent surgery for a gastrointestinal disease called diverticulitis, and again in 2023 for a hernia.
In the weeks before his hospitalization, the pope was seen with a sling around his arm, which, according to the Vatican, was necessary after the pope suffered a fall.
Francis has been leader of the Catholic Church’s more than 1 billion members since 2013.
