The Vatican has announced that Pope Francis will be released from the hospital on Sunday, as stated by the head of his medical team on Saturday. Following his discharge, the pope will require an additional two months of rest at the Vatican.
The 88-year-old pontiff was hospitalized on February 14 at Rome’s Gemelli hospital with a severe respiratory infection, marking the most serious health crisis of his 12-year papacy.
Upon his return to the Vatican on Sunday, it is expected that it will take a significant amount of time for his elderly body to fully recover. The medical team has recommended Pope Francis avoid large group meetings or any activities that require excessive effort during this period of recuperation.
“The recommendation for a period of convalescence of at least two months is very important,” Sergio Alfieri, head of the pope’s medical team, told the press conference.
The global head of the Catholic church, who was fighting double pneumonia, suffered four acute attacks of what the Vatican called respiratory crises during his time in hospital.
Alfieri said that two of the crises had been critical, with the pope in danger of his life.
According to the doctor, the pontiff no longer has pneumonia, but is also not completely healed from a complex infection involving several micro-organisms.
