Pope Francis is scheduled to be discharged from Gemelli Hospital in Rome on Sunday, concluding a 38-day ordeal that saw the 88-year-old pontiff fight a life-threatening case of double pneumonia.
The announcement came from Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the medical director at Gemelli, during a Saturday evening briefing—the first in-person update on the Pope’s condition in over a month.
Francis was admitted on February 14, initially for a worsening bout of bronchitis. His condition rapidly deteriorated into a complex respiratory infection involving bacterial, viral, and fungal elements, culminating in pneumonia affecting both lungs. The Pope, who has a history of chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed in his youth, faced multiple respiratory crises that left him in critical condition at times.
Despite these setbacks, he has made steady progress in recent weeks and is now stable enough to return to the Vatican.
Dr. Alfieri noted that while Francis no longer requires a nighttime ventilation mask and is reducing his dependence on supplemental oxygen during the day, he will need at least two months of rest and rehabilitation to fully recover. The Pope’s resilience shone through even during his gravest moments—he remained alert and cooperative throughout, never losing consciousness despite acute episodes, including a severe coughing fit on February 28 that necessitated manual mucus aspiration and noninvasive mechanical ventilation.
The Vatican has kept the faithful updated with periodic reports, including an audio message from Francis on March 6 and a photo released on March 16. On Sunday morning, he is expected to make his first live appearance since admission, delivering a blessing from his 10th-floor hospital suite to the crowd below.
This moment will mark a symbolic end to the longest hospitalization of his 12-year papacy.
The Pope’s health challenges began with signs of anemia, low blood platelets, and early kidney failure, all of which were addressed with two blood transfusions. His condition has since improved significantly, with the Vatican press office noting “slight but consistent” progress over the past two weeks.
As Francis prepares to leave Gemelli, the global Catholic community breathes a collective sigh of relief. His return to the Vatican will usher in a period of recovery, with the faithful eagerly awaiting his next steps in leading the Church through an increasingly complex world.