Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the medical director of Gemelli Hospital, announced on Saturday that Pope Francis is expected to be discharged on Sunday.
The Vatican confirmed that the pontiff will make a public appearance on Sunday morning to bless the faithful from his 10th-floor suite at the hospital before returning to the Vatican.
During a press conference, Alfieri stated that the Holy Father experienced “two very critical episodes” during his hospitalization, moments when his life was at risk. However, he has shown a “slow but progressive” improvement due to “pharmacological therapy, high flow oxygen administration, and assisted mechanical ventilation.” Importantly, Alfieri noted that the pope was never intubated and did not lose consciousness.
Alfieri indicated that Pope Francis will need at least two months of rest and rehabilitation upon his return to the Vatican. He advised that the pontiff should avoid large gatherings and public activities during this recovery period.
Accompanying Alfieri at the press conference were Luigi Carbone, head physician of the Vatican’s Health and Hygiene Office, and Matteo Bruni, the pope’s spokesperson. They addressed reporters in the entry hall of Rome’s Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic, where Pope Francis has been under care since February 14 after a severe bout of bronchitis. Doctors stated that the pope had been hospitalized for 38 days due to a life-threatening pneumonia in both lungs.
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Alfieri reported that the pope suffered from “acute respiratory failure due to a polymicrobial infection.”
The evening briefing marked the first in-person update on Pope Francis’s health since February 21, a week after the 88-year-old pontiff was admitted to Gemelli. He faced several respiratory crises that put him in critical condition, but he has now stabilized. Alfieri mentioned that due to the double pneumonia, the pope’s voice has been affected, although it is expected to improve over time.
The doctor emphasized that the pope’s recovery would be best supported at home, away from the hospital where he could be exposed to viruses that might compromise his health. While it has been confirmed that the pope does not have COVID-19, he has been exposed to various viruses.
Although Pope Francis shared an audio message on March 6 and the Vatican released a photo of him on March 16, Sunday’s blessing will be his first live appearance since his hospitalization on February 14, marking the longest stay in the hospital during his 12-year papacy. The Argentine pope, who has chronic lung disease, is particularly susceptible to respiratory issues during winter and underwent surgery to remove part of one lung in his youth.
Upon admission, doctors diagnosed him with a complex bacterial, viral, and fungal respiratory tract infection, followed by pneumonia in both lungs.
Blood tests revealed anemia, low blood platelets, and signs of kidney failure, all of which were resolved after two blood transfusions, as reported by officials.
Significant setbacks occurred starting February 28, when Francis suffered an acute coughing fit and inhaled vomit, necessitating the use of a noninvasive mechanical ventilation mask to aid his breathing. He subsequently faced two additional respiratory crises, requiring doctors to manually aspirate mucus, leading to him sleeping with the ventilation mask to help clear fluid from his lungs.
In the past two weeks, the Vatican press office has reported that the pope has stabilized, no longer needs to wear the ventilation mask at night, and is reducing his reliance on high supplemental oxygen flows during the day.
Alfieri noted that the pope no longer suffers from double pneumonia but still has some infections and must continue his healing process.
