Pope Francis to Leave Hospital Sunday After Pneumonia Battle/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Pope Francis will be discharged from Gemelli hospital on Sunday after spending 38 days battling pneumonia in both lungs. Doctors say he will need at least two months of rest and rehabilitation back at the Vatican. The 88-year-old pontiff is set to make his first live public appearance since mid-February.
Pope Francis Hospital Release: Quick Looks
- Francis hospitalized Feb. 14 with worsening bronchitis
- Diagnosed with bacterial, viral, and fungal pneumonia
- Experienced multiple respiratory crises during hospitalization
- Doctors confirm he’ll be released Sunday morning
- Live blessing to be delivered from hospital suite window
- Pope stabilized, no longer needs night-time oxygen mask
- Blood issues and early kidney failure now resolved
- Expected to rest for two months back at Vatican
Pope Francis to Leave Hospital Sunday After Pneumonia Battle
Deep Look
Pope Francis to Be Discharged Sunday After Six-Week Hospital Stay for Pneumonia
ROME — Pope Francis will be discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Sunday, following a prolonged 38-day battle with double pneumonia that brought his papacy to its most serious health crisis yet, doctors confirmed Saturday.
Doctors Say Recovery Will Continue at Vatican
In their first public update since February, Francis’ medical team provided a cautiously optimistic report, confirming the pontiff is well enough to leave but will require a minimum of two months of continued rest and rehabilitation.
“His condition has improved significantly,” said Dr. Sergio Alfieri, medical director at Gemelli. “But the Holy Father will need ongoing care and monitoring as he recovers his strength.”
The 88-year-old pope was first admitted on February 14, after a worsening bout of bronchitis escalated into pneumonia involving both lungs. His chronic respiratory vulnerability, due to a partial lung removal in his youth, made the condition especially dangerous.
Longest Hospitalization of His Papacy
This marks the longest hospital stay of Francis’ 12-year papacy. Over the course of his admission, he faced several setbacks — including a critical coughing episode on February 28 that led to vomit inhalation and the use of a noninvasive breathing mask to aid his lungs.
Doctors also treated him for complex bacterial, viral, and fungal infections in his respiratory tract, as well as complications including anemia, low platelet counts, and early-stage kidney failure. Two blood transfusions helped resolve these issues.
At no point during his hospitalization did Francis lose consciousness, and his doctors noted he remained mentally alert and cooperative throughout. By early March, the Vatican reported signs of gradual improvement, with Francis needing less oxygen support and being able to sleep without the ventilation mask.
Live Public Appearance Planned from Hospital Window
The Vatican announced that the pope will make his first live public appearance in over five weeks on Sunday. He plans to bless the faithful from the window of his 10th-floor hospital suite — the traditional noon appearance he’s been unable to deliver since February 9.
Though he previously released an audio message on March 6 and was photographed praying in the hospital chapel on March 16, Sunday’s event will be his first public visual appearance since being admitted.
Francis’ return to the Vatican marks the beginning of a careful recovery period, during which he is expected to reduce his public activities and limit travel. Doctors emphasized the importance of avoiding respiratory strain as his lungs continue to heal.
Resilient but Vulnerable
Known for his stamina in the early years of his papacy, Pope Francis has more recently faced a series of health challenges, including colon surgery in 2021 and recurring knee problems that now require a wheelchair. His advanced age and preexisting conditions have prompted concerns about his long-term ability to manage the physical demands of leading the Catholic Church’s 1.3 billion members.
Yet despite the pneumonia scare, Francis remains in charge and engaged in church governance. Vatican officials have said he continued signing documents, holding meetings, and issuing appointments during his hospital stay.
As he prepares to return to the Vatican, Francis faces the delicate balance of resuming papal duties while prioritizing his health — and a faithful global audience praying for his continued recovery.
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