VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis will be discharged from Rome’s Policlinico Agostino Gemelli hospital on Sunday after a 37-day stay for bilateral pneumonia, the Vatican announced. The 88-year-old pontiff has shown steady improvement over the past two weeks and will return to his residence at the Vatican, where he will continue his recovery.
The Vatican confirmed that before departing, Pope Francis will make a brief public appearance at 12 p.m. local time (7 a.m. ET) from a hospital window to offer a greeting and blessing. “Pope Francis intends to appear from the Policlinico Agostino Gemelli in Rome for a greeting and a blessing at the end of tomorrow’s Angelus [noontime prayer]. Papal text will be distributed in written form as in recent weeks,” the Vatican said.
Doctors have advised the pope to rest and avoid large gatherings while he undergoes a two-month recovery period at his Vatican residence. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni stated that while Pope Francis has continued limited work during his hospital stay, his medical team has recommended extended convalescence. “The pope is getting better so that in a brief time he can resume his normal activities. He has always continued to work, but we recommend that he takes the adequate time to rest and convalesce. So he can’t meet large groups of people,” Bruni said.
As he recovers, Pope Francis will continue physiotherapy and require oxygen therapy at his residence, with 24-hour medical support in place. Bruni noted that the pontiff’s voice remains affected by pneumonia-related lung and muscle damage. “When you have bilateral pneumonia and your lungs have been damaged, one of the first things that happens is you lose your voice. Like for all patients, young and old, it will take some time for his voice to return to normal. We have already seen important improvements,” he said.
On Friday, Vatican officials reported that Pope Francis was experiencing continued progress in breathing and motor function. “At night, he no longer uses mechanical ventilation with a mask but high-flow oxygenation with nasal cannulas, and during the day, he uses less high-flow oxygenation,” the Vatican said.
The pope’s routine will include physiotherapy, prayer, and limited work as he gradually regains his strength. The Vatican has assured that his condition remains stable, and his recovery is proceeding as expected.
