In brief
The 88-year-old pontiff will now transition to a period of rest at the Vatican following over five weeks of treatment and improvement in his condition.
Pope Francis is scheduled to be discharged from Rome's Gemelli hospital on Sunday, as confirmed by his medical team on Saturday. The 88-year-old leader of the Catholic Church has been recuperating from double pneumonia for over five weeks and will require at least two months of rest at the Vatican after his release. Since his admission on February 14, he has been publicly visible only once, with a Vatican-released photo showing him praying in a hospital chapel.The Vatican reported earlier this week that Pope Francis's health is improving; however, some challenges remain. Cardinal Victor Fernandez stated that the pope might need to "relearn to speak" due to the prolonged use of high-flow oxygen therapy, which has dried out his vocal cords. While he is no longer dependent on mechanical ventilation at night, he has been using oxygen through a small tube during the day and is gradually reducing the reliance on high-flow oxygen.Pope Francis thanked the Catholic faithful earlier this month in a breathless audio message played in St. Peter's Square, expressing his gratitude for their prayers. Amidst discussions about his health, Cardinal Fernandez has refuted speculations regarding the pope's resignation, asserting that Francis is doing well overall, despite the difficulties he faces. The pope has led the Roman Catholic Church for nearly 12 years and has navigated several health challenges throughout his life, including losing part of a lung at age 21, which increases his susceptibility to infections.
